29 Jun 2009

Hirvonen wins rally Poland

6:24 am on 29 June 2009

The Finnish driver Mikko Hirvonen has won the the Rally of Poland to edge into a one-point lead over Sebastien Loeb in the world championship standings.

Ford driver Hirvonen stayed out of trouble on the third day to finish one minute and 10 seconds ahead after the final super special stage, with Spain's Dani Sordo finishing second in his Citroen.

Hirvonen's compatriot Jari-Matti Latvala had been holding second place but crashed out on the last stage.

Norwegian Solberg brothers Henning and Petter came in third and fourth respectively.

France's Loeb, who crashed his car on a tree stump on the first day of the rally, was seventh, over 19 minutes behind Hirvonen.

There are four rounds to go in the World Rally Championship and Loeb now has to come from behind if he is to win his sixth successive title.