WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

Thailand News - Motoring - Friday December 07, 2007

MOTOR SPORT

WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

ROUND 16 OF 16 - WALES RALLY GB

Compiled by Wiwat Chang

Nov 30 - Dec 2, Cardiff, Wales.

Frenchman Sebastien Loeb drove a calculating drive to finish third in Wales Rally GB and take his fourth consecutive WRC drivers' title - Loeb is only the second driver to do so after Finn Tommi Makinen in 1999.

Finn driver Mikko Hirvonen, free of pressure to finish, won the rally with just 15 seconds gap to his teammate and season-long title contender Marcus Gronholm. Gronholm is now retiring from full time rallying.

Final drivers' standings: 1) S. Loeb (Fra) 116, 2) M. Gronholm (Fin) 112, 3) M. Hirvonen (Fin) 99.

Final manufacturers' standings: 1) BP-Ford 212, Citroen Total 183, Subaru 87.

Next: Jan 24-27, 2008, Rallye Monte Carlo.

THAILAND CROSS COUNTRY RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

ROUND 8 OF 8 - PATTAYA

- Dec 1-2, Pattaya, Chon Buri Province.

Japanese driver Tadamitsu Niihori won the final round but with nearest teammate down in 16th, the Team trophy went to Mitsubishi instead with "Dakar Star" Mana Pornsiricherd and Tawatchai Pasomsab in second and sixth respectively. Sarun Yoosuk and Worawat Yingsakul's third and fourth places gave Isuzu their best finishes of the year.

Final Class T1 drivers' standings: 1) Tawatchai Pasomsab (Tha) 53-pts., 2) Nattapol Ung-ruethanon (Tha) 48, 3) Charas Jaengkamolkulchai 35.

Final Class T2 drivers' standings: 1) Tadamitsu Niihori (Jpn) 73-pts., 2) Mana Pornsiricherd (Tha) 57, 3) Wutthichai Sorndaeng (Tha) 46.

Final manufacturers' standings: 1) Toyota 37-pts., 2) Mitsubishi 30, 3) Chevrolet 26.

Final teams' standings: 1) Mitsubishi Ralliart Singha Maxxis 34-pts., 2) Chevy Motorsports team 27, 3) Toyota Vigo Crosscountry Team Thailand 27.

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