Controversial end to WRC Australia

Hirvonen still leads WRC after Australia

There was a controversial end to the new Repco Rally of Australia.

BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen (above) were named as winners following a post-event hearing that imposed a one minute penalty on the Citroen C4 cars that filled three of the top four places.
The stewards of this 10th round of the FIA World Rally Championship received a post-event scrutineering report from the FIA Technical Delegate which stated that the front anti-roll bar link on the car of Sébastien Loeb, who had provisionally been declared winner by 12.5sec, did not comply with the homologation form of the car.
Citroen agreed that the part was different from the homologation photograph, and confirmed that the cars of Dani Sordo and Sébastien Ogier were also fitted with identical parts.
The stewards imposed a one minute penalty on all three cars, promoting the Ford Focus RS World Rally Car of Hirvonen and co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen from second to first, and that of team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala from fifth to fourth.
It means that Hirvonen will start the penultimate round of the series in Spain next month with a five point lead in the drivers' standings over Loeb, while second-placed Ford has reduced the gap in the manufacturers' standings to 13 points.
"It's a shame that after such a thrilling battle for three days the result of the rally is decided in the stewards' room," said 29-year-old Hirvonen.
"I suffered a points loss in Portugal two years ago, so I know how Sébastien, in particular, must feel tonight. This decision has a major effect on the championship standings and we now go to Spain with a five point lead."

Revised final positions Repco Rally of Australia
1. M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen	Ford Focus RS	2hr 53min 06.5sec
2. S Loeb/D Elena	Citroen C4	2hr 53min 54.0sec
3. D Sordo/M Marti	Citroen C4	2hr 53min 11.1sec
4. J-M Latvala/M Anttila	Ford Focus RS	2hr 54min 58.5sec
5. S Ogier/J Ingrassia	Citroen C4	2hr 55min 29.8sec
6. M Wilson/S Martin	Ford Focus RS	2hr 58min 32.8sec
7. H Solberg/C Menkerud	Ford Focus RS	3hr 00min 24.3sec
8. F Villagra/J Perez Companc	Ford Focus RS	3hr 00min 45.9sec
9. H Paddon/J Kennard	Mitsubishi Lancer	3hr 08min 42.6sec
10 M Prokop/J Tomanek	Mitsubishi Lancer	3hr 08min 51.2sec

World Rally Championship 2009 after ten rounds
Drivers		Manufacturers
1. M Hirvonen	78pts	1. Citroen Total	133pts
2. S Loeb	73pts	2. BP Ford Abu Dhabi	120pts
3. D Sordo	50pts	3. Stobart VK M-Sport Ford	69pts
4. J-M Latvala	35pts	4. Citroen Junior	38pts
5. H Solberg	29pts	5. Munchi's Ford	21pts