Motorsport: Loeb victorious in Mexico

Sebastien Loeb secured his second consecutive victory in Mexico. Photo / Reuters

MEXICO CITY - Citroen's Sebastien Loeb completed a comfortable victory in the Mexican Rally to put pressure on Ford's championship leader Marcus Gronholm who finished second behind the triple world champion today.

Loeb took a lead of one minute 0.8 seconds into the final day and relinquished very little as he finished 55.8 seconds ahead of his Finnish rival. It was the Frenchmen's second consecutive victory in Mexico.

Gronholm's team mate and compatriot Mikko Hirvonen finished 31.9 seconds further behind to claim third place, while Citroen's Daniel Sordo and Subaru's Chris Atkinson completed the top five at the first rally raced on familiar gravel terrain.

The victory extended Loeb's overall points tally for the season to 28 after four races, closing the gap on Gronholm to four points and leapfrogging Hirvonen into second place.

- REUTERS