The World Rally Championship finally returns at Rally Catalunya for the 11th round of the championship. This rally usually suits the Citroens, most notably Mr Loeb. He will have to stage a mighty fightback he is has any chance of overhauling Gronholm's 12 point advantage. It will be a great fight between both drivers. Surprise, surprise, Loeb has dominated the shake down. It's a Citroen 1-2-3, Gronholm could only manage 4th. Full shakedown results and report: http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~4~id ... ~pid~1.htm

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Loeb should be able to dominate this event, and the rest should be competing for second place providing he is on top form. I reckon Gronholm will be happy with being second to Loeb at this stage of the season, as he needs to gain more than two points a round if he is going to catch Marcus and deny him a fairwell championship.

I gather the cars are running a tribute to McRae, any news on this?

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Come On You Stones - Maidstone United FC
DTM @ Brands Hatch - 31st August 2008

Yeah Loeb will defintely dominate this event, being a tarmac specialist.

A second place would be fine for Gronholm, although Sordo appears to be fast.

I don't know about what's exactly happening with the McRae tribute, maybe his name will be on all cars - like the A1 Team GB car at Zanvoort?

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I know they said they were going to remember him at this round, so it wouldn't surprise me if they have a sticker or two on each car in his memory.

It would be nice to see Sordo take the fight to Loeb, but I imagine he will be playing the team role and will be trying to take points off Marcus as his main goal for the event.

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Come On You Stones - Maidstone United FC
DTM @ Brands Hatch - 31st August 2008

Yeah Sordo defintely won't be allowed to challenge Loeb, no way!

It would be interesting, although Mr Loeb would probably over-drive the car and crash with a compeitive teamate.

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Interesting that, despite Ford and Citroen both fielding multiple cars, that only one man from each manufacturer has managed to make a real impact on the title race. Just shows the difference in class between the top two and the rest of the drivers.

Another retirement for Loeb this weekend and you would have to feel that is game over for his title chances, especially if Gronhom can pick up the pieces.

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Come On You Stones - Maidstone United FC
DTM @ Brands Hatch - 31st August 2008

Yeah it really does, realistically I really don't think Hirvonen or Sordo could match Geonholm or Loeb - they are simply in a different league.

Loeb will be pushing like mad, even more than usual. He knows he must win, I see potenial mistakes happening...

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Indeed, it should certainly make for an exciting three days of action and I'm sure something major will happen, just don't ask me what though.

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Come On You Stones - Maidstone United FC
DTM @ Brands Hatch - 31st August 2008

Yeah I'm sure we will see at least one major mistake from the top 4, but I reckon it's gonna come from Loeb.

He will be driving like a mad man, therefore is likely to make a mistake...

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Surpise surprise, Mr Loeb won the rally, Sordo 2nd and Gronhom 3rd.

Results:

Pos Driver Car Time
1. Loeb Citroen 3h22:50.5
2. Sordo Citroen + 13.8
3. Gronholm Ford + 39.8
4. Hirvonen Ford + 1:25.8
5. Duval Citroen + 2:28.7
6. Solberg Subaru + 2:54.1
7. Latvala Ford + 3:38.2
8. Atkinson Subaru + 4:22.4
9. Pons Subaru + 5:04.1
10. Solberg Ford + 10:32.2

The fight goes on to Corsica!

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Good showing from Sordo, he even managed to lead Loeb at one point in the rally although natural order was quickly restored. Loeb has gained four points on Gronholm, which certainly heats up the title battle even more for the remaining four rounds of the season.

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Come On You Stones - Maidstone United FC
DTM @ Brands Hatch - 31st August 2008

This championship is going down to the wire, Mr Gronholm better get a move on, or Loeb will pass him in the points standings...

Sordo likes tarmac rallies, which is the reason why he went so well in Spain - so he'll like Corsica too...

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