Loeb stamps his authority on rivals in Turkey

KEMER - World championship leader and reigning titleholder Sebastien Loeb once again stamped his authority on his rivals on the first day of the Rally of Turkey, the seventh round of the 16-race season, on Friday.
Citroen driver Loeb won seven of the day's scheduled eight special stages to lead by 1min 9.6sec from Italy's Gigi Galli and by 1:13.2 from Finland's Marcus Gronholm with Petter Solberg of Norway and Spain's Carlos Sainz both more than a minute and a half adrift.
"Seb gave it all he had," said Loeb's co-driver Daniel Elena and it was clear none of the other competitors could keep up with him with the only other stage winner being Galli in the fourth special.
Frenchman Loeb showed the form which could land him his fourth consecutive victory after wins in New Zealand, Sardinia and Cyprus.
Following this first day demonstration, few would bet against Loeb winning his fifth victory of the year and 14th in his young, yet successive career.

06/03/2005 16:43 GMT