The XXV edition of Rally ACA Argentina finished with honours this afternoon with the podium ceremony. The outstanding winner, French driver Sébastien Loeb, got his first victory in Argentina.
Today`s leg fullfilled all expectations created about the stages in the Traslasierra Valley. The snow gave the landscape a different touch, but spectators gathered along the road had to undergo freezing temperatures to see their favourite drivers speed along. The culmination of the day was the prize giving ceremony after the Super Special Stages at Pro Racing Circuit.
Delays & Safety
There was a 20 minute delay for the first special stage of the day when the FIA safety representative decided spectators at the start of El Condor-Copina needed to be better positioned. Afterwards, the race developed without incidents.
A Battle of three
The victory of Sébastien Loeb was never at risk but he had to be precautious due to the conditions of the surface, sometimes covered with ice. His nearest followers, Marcus Grönholm and Petter Solberg, were not able to do much to challenge his top position in the leaderboard.
The Finn was satisfied with the performance of the Peugeot 307 WRC, while Petter Solberg, who expected to get better results in Argentina, expressed he will keep on trying hard to beat Loeb. Toni Gardemeister led his Ford Focus WRC to the fourth place and battled to hold back Harri Rovanperä and his Mitsubishi Lancer WRC, that showed a good performance once again.
The rally was a little complex for Skoda but German Armin Schwarz was able to reach the finish line. Good results also for Manfred Stohl and the Citroen of the Kronos team.
Tears and laughter for Argentine drivers
Marcos Ligato completed the XXV Rally ACA Argentina setting some good times and a positive final result. He must be proud with his 13th position as this was his debut in a WRCar. Luis Pérez Companc had some problems but he managed to get to the finish line and his performance improved along the race. Juan Pablo Raies was out as a consequence of a smalll crash with Esteban Goldenhersch in the inner streets of the Service Park.
A Surprise in the Production Group
Nasser Al Atiyyah could not hide his happiness after the victory obtained in the Production Group, which takes him to a privileged position in the championship. The driver from Qatar had a rather easy win after the several retirements in the group. But there were other surprises to come after the end of the race. Mark Higgins, who had arrived second, was excluded after some of their mechanics gave them two tyres within a prohibited area. Later, during scrutineering, the Mitsubishi Lancer of Cordoba driver Federico Villagra was also excluded for non-conformity of the turbo restrictor.


Tags: argentina, winner, loeb, elena, citroen,