SS3: Loeb out, Hirvonen in trouble

Ogier takes the lead

There was drama on stage three of Rallye de France Alsace when both world championship title contenders hit trouble.

Sebastien Loeb, in a Citroen DS3 WRC, stopped approximately 27 kilometres into the stage with a suspected technical failure, while Mikko Hirvonen suffered a brief off in his Ford Fiesta RS WRC early in the test.

Hirvonen was able to complete the stage, albeit almost one minute slower than stage winner and new leader Sebastien Ogier.

“I just went off a few kilometres from the start,” said Hirvonen. “There was so much mud in the wheel, the whole car was vibrating so much that I can’t see outside. The car was jumping, it was very difficult to drive. Really stupid. I am really far behind now, I have to step on it to get some points.”

Ogier, in the second factory Citroen, said: “It’s a shame [for Loeb] but it’s just the start of the rally and a lot of work to do.”

In another sensational twist, Jari-Matti Latvala also went off the road in his Fiesta. “We are on the soft tyre and it was difficult to drive,” said Latvala, who was 1m22.4s slower than Ogier. “I went off on a right/left combination and lost the rear of the car on the left. I Got on the grass and got stuck. We needed people to help us get back on.”

Petter Solberg was 1.2s slower than Ogier after he admitted backing off slightly in his privateer Citroen. Mads Ostberg has moved into fourth in the overall classification despite reporting brake problems on his M-Sport Stobart Fiesta. The Norwegian is one place behind the flying Dani Sordo, who climbs into third in his MINI John Cooper Works WRC.

There are reports that ex-Formula One world champion Kimi Raikkonen failed to start the stage after he went off the road warming his tyres prior to the start of the run. Raikkonen’s privateer Citroen is stuck in a ditch one kilometre from the stage start with broken front suspension.

Standings after SS3: