19 Apr 2010

Loeb stays on a roll with Turkey win

6:44 am on 19 April 2010

Citroen's world champion Sebastien Loeb has won the Rally of Turkey for his third victory in a row.

After heavy overnight rain forced the final day's opening two stages to be cancelled the Frenchman finished 54.5 seconds ahead of Norwegian Petter Solberg in a privately-entered Citroen.

Ford's Finnish driver Mikko Hirvonen was third, after hitting a rock and picking up a rear tyre puncture on the last day, to deny Citroen a podium sweep.

Citroen's Dani Sordo, who had been third, crashed out and junior team driver Sebastien Ogier was fourth for the French manufacturer.

The former Ferrari Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen finished fifth for his second successive points finish and best result since he switched from grand prix racing at the end of last season.

Loeb, chasing his seventh title in a row, took his record career tally of wins to 57 and extended his championship lead to 40 points.

The Citroen driver has 93, Solberg 53 and Hirvonen 52.