Motorsport: Loeb roars further ahead in WRC with victory in Jordan

Sebastien Loeb extended his lead in the World Rally Championship with victory in Jordan yesterday.

The Frenchman finished ahead of Jari-Matti Latvala and Petter Solberg to move 31 points clear of his main title rival Mikko Hirvonen after the Finn crashed out of the event early on the second day.

Six-time world champion Loeb, who finished 10th in the inaugural biannual Rally of Jordan two years ago, recorded his 56th rally win to extend his lead in the season's overall standings.

"It has been a good start to the season. I really had to go flat-out because Jari-Matti was going very fast and made me push to the limit all of the time."

Latvala was satisfied with second place but disappointed not to have been able to take the fight to Loeb.

"I am quite pleased with second but also a little disappointed we didn't have the pace to compete with Sebastien," he said.

Dani Sordo claimed fourth place ahead of Britain's Matthew Wilson in fifth and Sebastien Ogier (sixth).

Ogier was the biggest loser on the final day after he was under strict team orders to give compatriot and teammate Loeb a free run.

He slipped as a result from second overnight to a final seventh place.

Argentina's Federico Villagra was seventh, with former Ferrari Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen claiming the maiden points of his first World Championship campaign with eighth place.

Henning Solberg and Xavier Pons rounded out the points positions in ninth and 10th respectively.