STOP PRESS: Ogier wins Rally Sweden

Sebastien Ogier wins Rally Sweden with Sebastien Loeb second and Mads Ostberg third

10 Feb 2013

Sebastien Ogier (F) Julien Ingrassia (F), Volkswagen Polo WRC, Volkswagen Motorsport — Sebastien Ogier (F) Julien Ingrassia (F), Volkswagen Polo WRC, Volkswagen…
© PHOTO 4

Volkswagen's Sebastien Ogier has won Rally Sweden after a dominant performance in his Polo R WRC.

Ogier, who took the lead in the first 'proper' stage, ends the event, the second round in the 2013 FIA World Rally Championship, 41.8 seconds up on his closest rival and former Citroen team-mate, Sebastien Loeb.

Significantly, it is the first ever win for the new Volkswagen WRC team and it comes in only the team's second event with the Polo R WRC. Ogier also took the Power Stage honours too.

Mads Ostberg meanwhile completes the podium, followed by Jari-Matti Latvala and Thierry Neuville. Juho Hanninen is sixth, with Martin Prokop, Henning Solberg, Evgeny Novikov and WRC2 class winner, Yazeed Al-Rajhi in positions 7 through to 10. Novikov had been on course for fifth, until an off in SS20, which cost the Russian over 10 minutes. That same test also claimed the scalp of Dani Sordo. The Spaniard had been in eighth. Sordo was the third major retirement, following the exit of Pontus Tidemand (engine) and Khalid Al-Qassimi (off) on Saturday.

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Rally Sweden: Overall standings after Stage 22 (Top 10):

1. Sebastien OgierVolkswagen Motorsport Polo R WRC3h 11m 41.9s M
2. Sebastien LoebCitroen Total Abu Dhabi WRT DS3 WRC+41.8s M
3. Mads OstbergQatar M-Sport WRT Ford Fiesta RS WRC+1m 24.5s M
4. Jari-Matti LatvalaVolkswagen Motorsport Polo R WRC+1m 30.6s M
5. Thierry Neuville Qatar WRT Ford Fiesta RS WRC +5m 06.4s T
6. Juho Hanninen Qatar WRT Ford Fiesta RS WRC +5m 43.1s
7. Martin Prokop Jipocar Czech National TeamFord Fiesta RS WRC+11m 25.4s T
8. Henning SolbergFord Fiesta RS WRC+11m 42.7s
9. Evgeny NovikovQatar M-Sport WRT Ford Fiesta RS WRC+13m 04.7s M
10. Yazeed Al-RajhiFord Fiesta RRC+16m 27.0s WRC2

Others:

11. Anders GrondalSubaru Impreza+17m 10.5s WRC2
12. Michal SolowowPeugeot 207 S2000+19m 32.2s
13. Sepp WiegandSkoda Fabia S2000+20m 32.1s WRC2
14. Michal KosciouskoLotos Team WRC MINI John Cooper Works WRC +25m 08.9s T
17. Mikko HirvonenCitroen Total Abu Dhabi WRT DS3 WRC+31m 19.0s M

Rally Sweden: Power Stage / SS22 (Top 3):

1. Sebastien OgierVolkswagen Motorsport Polo R WRC9m 54.1s M
2. Jari-Matti LatvalaVolkswagen Motorsport Polo R WRC+1.0s M
3. Mads OstbergQatar M-Sport WRT Ford Fiesta RS WRC+3.2s M

NOTE: Top three finishers in Power Stage are awarded bonus points. 1st = 3 points; 2nd = 2 points; 3rd = 1 point

WRC2 standings after Stage 22 (Top 3):

1. Yazeed Al-RajhiFord Fiesta RRC3h 28m 08.9s WRC2
2. Anders GrondalSubaru Impreza+43.5s WRC2
3. Sepp WiegandSkoda Fabia S2000+4m 05.1s WRC2

Notable retirements:

SS5. Jari KetomaaFord Fiesta RS WRCMechanical*
SS5. Eyvind BrynildsenFord Fiesta RRCEngine WRC2

SS9. Pontus TidemandFord Fiesta WRCEngine
SS9. Matthew WilsonQatar WRT Ford Fiesta RS WRCWent off the road*
SS14/SS15. Khalid Al-QassimiAbu Dhabi Citroen Total WRT DS3 WRCWent off T
SS16. Jari KetomaaFord Fiesta RS WRCWithdrew, co-driver unwell

SS20. Dani SordoAbu Dhabi Citroen Total WRT DS3 WRC Accident

*denotes re-started under Rally 2

all times unofficial