Sebastien Ogier has taken a sensational victory in Rally Sweden and secured a maiden win for Volkswagen&’s new Polo R World Rally Car on only the manufacturer’s second event.
Ogier, 29, dominated the World Rally Championship’s snow and ice round after taking the lead from his fellow Frenchman Sebastien Loeb on Friday morning.
Loeb, in a Citroen DS3, kept the pressure on his former team-mate right to the end, but eventually had to settle for the runners-up spot, 41.8sec behind Ogier and his co-driver Julien Ingrassia.
Ford Fiesta RS driver Mads Ostberg was third, the Norwegian finishing 42.7sec adrift of Loeb.
Ogier takes Power Stage win
Rally Sweden winner Sebastien Ogier ensured a perfect weekend by claiming three bonus points for his 2013 FIA World Rally Championship campaign by winning the Power Stage.
The 29-year-old Frenchman was fastest in his Volkswagen Polo R by 0.9sec from team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala, who took two extra points.
The final Power Stage point was collected by Mads Ostberg. The Ford Fiesta RS pilot finished 2.3sec behind Latvala.
Mikko Hirvonen had a troubled weekend but hoped to gain something from the Power Stage. The Finn, who had been third in the running order, dropped down the start positions for the final stage and had the advantage of better road conditions in his Citroen DS3.
However, he missed out on points by finishing fourth fastest, 1.7sec behind Ostberg.
| Pos. | # | Driver | Cat. | Time | Diff / Prev | Diff / 1st |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 8 | S. OGIER | M | 3:11:41.9 | ||
| 2. | 1 | S. LOEB | M | 3:12:23.7 | +41.8 | +41.8 |
| 3. | 4 | M. ØSTBERG | M | 3:13:06.4 | +42.7 | +1:24.5 |
| 4. | 7 | J. LATVALA | M | 3:13:12.5 | +6.1 | +1:30.6 |
| 5. | 11 | T. NEUVILLE | T | 3:16:48.3 | +3:35.8 | +5:06.4 |
| 6. | 15 | J. HÄNNINEN | 3:17:25.0 | +36.7 | +5:43.1 | |
| 7. | 21 | M. PROKOP | T | 3:23:07.3 | +5:42.3 | +11:25.4 |
| 8. | 16 | H. SOLBERG | 3:23:24.6 | +17.3 | +11:42.7 | |
| 9. | 5 | E. NOVIKOV | M | 3:24:46.6 | +1:22.0 | +13:04.7 |
| 10. | 35 | Y. AL RAJHI | WRC2 | 3:28:08.9 | +3:22.3 | +16:27.0 |
| 11. | 42 | A. GRØNDAL | WRC2 | 3:28:52.4 | +43.5 | +17:10.5 |
| 12. | 71 | M. SOLOWOW | 3:31:14.1 | +2:21.7 | +19:32.2 | |
| 13. | 32 | S. WIEGAND | WRC2 | 3:32:14.0 | +59.9 | +20:32.1 |
| 14. | 12 | M. KOSCIUSZKO | T | 3:36:50.8 | +4:36.8 | +25:08.9 |
| 15. | 34 | Y. PROTASOV | WRC2 | 3:37:10.2 | +19.4 | +25:28.3 |
| 16. | 41 | N. FUCHS | WRC2 | 3:42:58.7 | +5:48.5 | +31:16.8 |
| 17. | 2 | M. HIRVONEN | M | 3:43:00.9 | +2.2 | +31:19.0 |
| 18. | 78 | O. KIKIRESHKO | 3:47:24.2 | +4:23.3 | +35:42.3 | |
| 19. | 40 | A. SMAILOV | WRC2 | 3:48:00.9 | +36.7 | +36:19.0 |
| 20. | 37 | L. BERTELLI | 3:53:34.3 | +5:33.4 | +41:52.4 |