World championship leader Sebastien Loeb has said one of his biggest regrets on the Jordan Rally last week was not winning the event-closing Power Stage.
The Citroen DS3 WRC ace, world champion for the past seven seasons, was third fastest through the 10.5-kilometre test, 0.3s slower than stage winner and team-mate Sebastien Ogier and Ford driver Mikko Hirvonen.
He put his rare failure down to leaving his braking too late for a corner in his efforts to maximise his speed on the all-gravel course.
“It’s a shame because we were ahead [on split timing] but two kilometres from the end I lost almost two seconds braking too late [for a corner],” said Loeb told his personal website. “The corner was large wide with a wide exit but I arrived too fast, I left the line and went to the outside. It was small but a big error for the result when it was split by tenths.”
Despite his disappointment at not claiming his second Power Stage victory of 2011, Loeb’s capture of third place overall and the bonus point he secured for coming third on the Power Stage means he is now two points in front of Hirvonen in the title race heading to round five, Rally d’Italia Sardegna, next month.
However, as a result, Loeb will face the prospect of cleaning the road of the loose surface gravel on day one of the Olbia-based event, a prospect that he’s not entirely keen on.
“We know what awaits us in Sardinia, simple as that,” the 37-year-old French star continued. “It was okay to be opening a rally but, this year, the gaps have narrowed so we can no longer make up time lost during the early stages.”
Following the Jordan Rally Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena visited the 14th Shanghai Automobile Show as part of a promotional appearance for Citroen.
Credit: World Rally Championship (www.wrc.com)
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