Loeb Closes In On 4th WRC Crown

Topics:  Sebastien Loeb, Wales Rally of Great Britain

VOA Sports
December 1, 2007

French rally driver Sebastien Loeb remains on course to win his fourth consecutive World Rally title after the second day of the season-ending Rally of Great Britain in Wales.

Loeb, in a Citroën, needs only to finish in the top five to win the title. The Frenchman is in third place going into Sunday's final stages.

Mikko Hirvonen of Finland remains in the lead after navigating through slippery, muddy conditions caused by heavy rains.

The Ford Focus driver is 35.7 seconds ahead of compatriot and Ford teammate Marcus Grönholm. Loeb is 1:14.7 seconds off the leader.

If Loeb wins this year, he would join Finland's Tommi Makinen as the only drivers to win four consecutive world titles. Grönholm - the 2000 and 2002 world champion - can also capture this year's title, but plans to retire after this season. Ford has previously secured this year's manufacturer's title.

Some information for this report provided by AP.