It's already underway. This is Sebastien Loeb's final rally & Sebastien Ogier has already clinched the championship! Here's the rally synopsis, comments on the very short but important first day, below. Rallye de France-Alsace (WRC.com) There was only one stage today and it was only 4.55km. Oddly, Stage 1 was also the Power Stage. This means there were points up for grabs. Ogier was so close to locking up the title, he could clinch it on the opening stage. He did. Sordo won the stage, Neuville 2nd, Ogier 3rd (Loeb 7th). So, the 2013 championship is won by Sebastien Ogier in VW's opening season! The torch passes from Sebastien to Sebastien. And we still have three full days of the French rally to go.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIEOKsXHmyo]Shakedown: Seb vs Seb - 2013 WRC Rallye de France - Best-of-RallyLive.com - YouTube[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyofim0dEyY]Rallye de France 2013 - Sebastien Loeb is back! - YouTube[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnc1ULROt6s]SS1 Strasbourg Power Stage - Rallye de France 2013 [HD] - YouTube[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh8j010fbLI]Stages 1-4: WRC Rallye de France-Alsace 2013 - YouTube[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1GtQ-c-53Y]Stages 5-7: WRC Rallye de France-Alsace 2013 - YouTube[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kP3yyEe_5O0]Leg 1 - 2013 WRC Rallye de France - Best-of-RallyLive.com - YouTube[/ame]
The title doesn't come close to telling the tale but the first para gets a lot closer. After 2 full days(+) of running, the 4 top drivers are covered by 5 seconds! The final day looks to be a 4-way runoff. Latvala didn't get the overall lead until the last stage of the day. It's the first time he's lead the rally and he is in the lead without having won a single stage! Latvala leads French thriller (WRC.com)
Ogier shows champion’s class to win in France (WRC.com) [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkyLEuNXRks]SEBASTIEN LOEB CRASHES AT LAST EVER RALLYE DE FRANCE 2013 - YouTube[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITwBO_vSxeg]Stages 15-17: Rallye de France-Alsace 2013 - YouTube[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ao98UcweqA]Stages 18-20: Rallye de France-Alsace 2013 - YouTube[/ame] WRC 2: Kubica closes on title (MaxRally.com)
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHCsl06QSKU]Rallye de France - Alsace 2013 (HD) By Rallye-Mann - YouTube[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzcMI01YNmM]WRC - Rallye de France - Alsace 2013 Maxicorde HD - YouTube[/ame]
Following Loeb's/Elena's final WRC run in France, a tribute video from Citroen. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L446BdowWsg]Tribute to Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena - Citroën WRC 2013 - YouTube[/ame]