Rallying: Loeb, Hirvonen neck to neck in Wales

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Rallying: Loeb, Hirvonen neck to neck in Wales

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Sebastien Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen shared the opening day's honours in the Wales Rally GB

11 November,2011 03:09 am

Citroens French ace Loeb, bidding for an unprecedented eighth successive championship, claimed the second stage with his Finnish arch rivals Ford Fiesta taking the days third and final special.Loeb, who has an eight-point advantage in the drivers standings going into this 13th and final title-decider, holds a 0.7sec edge on Hirvonen, with Hirvonens teammate Jari-Matti Latvala, winner of the first stage, 3.1sec back in third.The first two stages were run over the Great Orme all-asphalt toll road in North Wales, not used in the event since 1981, with Latvalas third special win coming in the Clocaenog Forest, appearing for the first time on the rallys itinerary since 1996.Ford driver Hirvonen has vowed to go all out for victory here this weekend as he attmepts to muscle in on Loebs title monopoly.But if Hirvonen does emerge as the winner on Sunday with Loeb second then it is Loeb who will take the drivers crown by a solitary point.However, with bonus points up for grabs on the Power Stage, the championship could be decided by the outcome of the rallys final test on Sunday afternoon.