SS18: Sordo
wins stage,
Loeb wins
rally

Stage data: SS18, La Serra d’Almos 2 (4.11 kilometres - asphalt)

Stage description:
By Prodrive WRC Team co-driver Carlos del Barrio: “It’s a very high pace for the first three kilometres, which are either downhill or flat. The last one kilometre is uphill and it’s nice for the spectators who can see most of the stage from here.”

How the action unfolded:
Dani Sordo has brought the curtain down on the 2012 FIA World Rally Championship season by winning the final stage of RallyRACC-Rally de Espana.

The Spanish ace’s stage best by 0.1s was his fourth of the day in his Prodrive-run MINI. He said: “It’s really a nice end of the rally. We make a mistake on the first day then we had a small problem with the car. But we have been fighting for the best times, which is very good and I am happy to finish the year like this.”

Jari-Matti Latvala ended his career as a factory Ford driver by going second fastest. The Finn, who will switch to Volkswagen Motorsport from next year, was 2.1s quicker than Sebastien Loeb, who claimed his 76th WRC victory for Citroen by 7.0s.

Thierry Neuville and Evgeny Novikov shared the third fastest time, 1.4s down on Sordo, with Mikko Hirvonen fifth quickest and Loeb sixth. Hirvonen’s performance means he pips Mads Ostberg to the final podium spot. Ostberg was eighth quickest to finish in fourth overall.

An emotional Craig Breen secured the Super 2000 World Rally Championship five months since his co-driver Gareth Roberts lost his life in a crash on a rally in Sicily. Meanwhile, Benito Guerra clinched the Production Car World Rally Championship title.