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CITROËN BLITZES THE OPPOSITION IN GERMANY

Citroën has strengthened its grip on the 2004 World Rally Championship with a commanding win by Sébastien Loeb in his Citroën Xsara at the German round of the WRC at the weekend (20-22 August 2004), his third consecutive win the German Rally, his six win this season and Citroën’s seventh victory.

Sébastien Loeb now has 29 point advantage over second placed Marko Martin in the drivers’ championship, while Citroen heads Ford by an equal 29 point margin for the manufacturers’ championship.

Citroën lead the Rally of Germany from start to finish, first in the hands of Carlos Sainz, who finished third overall and from stage two, Sébastien Loeb. But this is not say it was an easy rally across the tank training grounds and vineyards around Trier. The rally will beremembered for the atrocious weather conditions, which made the first two days of the event so difficult.

The Rally of Germany is almost a local event for Sébastien Loeb, coming as he does from just across the border in France, so thousands of fans poured across the border to watch the young Frenchman claim his third German crown.

“2002 was the very first WRC win of my career, so of course it was quite unforgettable. Last year’s was important, as it was so close. This year, the gap might have been wider, but the road conditions could have ended it all out at any moment,” commented Loeb after a rally that saw reigning world champion Petter Solberg spectacularly demolish his Subaru as he battled to keep up with Loeb.

“So I have never really won easily here! It’s a rally where you have to both push and be patient, and that was even more true than ever this year. And you must be careful in such precarious conditions,” explained Loeb.

Germany is not Carlos Sainz favourite event, so have three podium finishes reconciled “El Matador” to an event among vineyards and tank traps?

“Almost!” Carlos replies with a smile. “Marc and I have claimed our third podium in a row, thanks to both the team’s excellent work and to our unyielding determination to overcome the conditions on this event. We are now third in the championship, and as well as the position, I am quite naturally very satisfied to see that I am still able to be up with the best.”

Team manger, Guy Fréquelin is happy with the team’s success, but took nothing for granted in Germany

“It was not easy,” Guy Fréquelin admitted. “In this event, it would have been simple for a team to make a mistake in tyre choices. We came out rather well. It would have been easy for the drivers to go off the road. They were able to avoid the potential traps, completing the event with driving that was as brilliantas it was intelligent. It was vital for us not to be over-confident on the tarmac and really on it being a Citroen strength. We defended position and kept our stronghold on the championships. We are now in a good position in both championships. We are more keen than ever to keep our hold of it all but there is still a long way to go!”

(ends)

Stage wins

Leg 1. SS1: Carlos Sainz (Citroën Xsara) – SS2 and 3: François Duval (Ford Focus) – SS4, 5, 6, 7 and 8: Sébastien Loeb (Citroën Xsara).

Leg 2. SS9: notional time – SS10: F. Duval – SS11: Markko Märtin (Ford Focus) – SS12: notional time – SS13: Armin Schwarz (Skoda Fabia) – SS14: S. Loeb – SS15: Freddy Loix (Peugeot 307) – SS16: S. Loeb – SS17: Cédric Robert (Peugeot 307).

Leg 3. SS18: F. Loix – SS19: F. Duval – SS20: C. Robert – SS21, 22 and 23: F. Duval – SS24: S. Loeb.

Best performers*

S. Loeb, 8 fastest times - F. Duval, 7 - F. Loix, 2 – C. Robert, 2 - C. Sainz, 1 – M. Märtin, 1 – A. Schwarz, 1 – Notional times, 2.

Successive leaders

SS1: C. Sainz – SS2 to 24: S. Loeb

Overall classification OMV ADAC Rallye Deutschland**

  1. S. Loeb/D. Elena (Citroën Xsara)4 h 01 min 57,4 s
  2. F. Duval/S. Prevot (Ford Focus)+ 29,1 s
  3. C. Sainz/M. Marti (Citroën Xsara)+ 1 min 09,5 s
  4. M. Märtin/M. Park (Ford Focus)+ 2 min 40,4 s
  5. C. Robert/G. Bedon (Peugeot 307)+ 3 min 30,1 s
  6. F. Loix/S. Smeets (Peugeot 307)+ 4 min 06 s
  7. T. Gardemeister/P. Lukander (Skoda Fabia)+ 5 min 44,2 s
  8. M. Hirvonen/J. Lehtinen (Subaru Impreza)+ 6 min 41,1 s
  9. S. Sarrazin/P. Pivato (Subaru Impreza)+ 6 min 58,9 s
  10. A. Bengué/C. Escudero (Peugeot 206)+ 10 min 26,7 s …

* Stage times of the competitors who re started after having retired thanks to the SupeRally regulations trial, are not taken into account in these statistics.

FIA World Manufacturers’ Rally Championship **

1.Citroën, 125 points – 2. Ford, 96 pts - 3. Subaru, 67 pts – 4. Peugeot, 65 pts - 5. Mitsubishi, 17 pts.

FIA World Drivers’ Rally Championship **

1.S. Loeb, 76 points – 2. M. Märtin, 47 pts - 3.C. Sainz, 46 pts -4. P. Solberg, 44 pts - 5. M. Grönholm, 42 pts - 6. F. Duval, 39 pts – 7. M. Hirvonen, 19 pts - 8. J. Tuohino, 16 pts – 9. H. Rovanperä, 14 pts – 10. F. Loix, 7 pts – 11. D. Carlsson, 6 pts - 12. G. Panizzi, 6 pts - 13. C. Robert, 4 pts – 14. M. Stohl, 3 pts – 15. J. Paasonen, 3 pts - 16. H. Solberg, 3 pts - 17. L. Perez Companc, 3 pts – 18. T. Gardemeister, 3 pts - 19. J. Välimäki, 2 pts - 20. A. Ginley, 2 pts – 21. A. Warmbold, 1 pt - 22. M. Campos, 1 pt – 23. O. Burri, A. Vovos et G. Pozzo, 1 pt.

** Classements officieux jusqu'à leur validation par la FIA.

For further information:

Citroën Australia Media Web Site:

Miles Williams

/ Tel: (02) 9701 8020
General Manager / Fax: (02) 9701 3555
Citroën Australia / Mob: 0419 800 520
E-Mail:

Edward Rowe

/ Tel: (02) 9701 8015
Public Relations Manager / Fax: (02) 9701 3555
Citroën Australia / Mob: 0407 913 244
E-Mail:

Web site:

Citroen Australia

Street Address: Heritage Building, Campus Business Park, 350 Parramatta Road, Homebush NSW 2140 Australia.

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Telephone: 02 9701 8000; Direct Telephone 02 9701 8015 Fax: 02 9701 3555. Mobile +61 0407 913 244

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EJR/ejr/007

8/23/2004