Loeb wins fourth Rally of Italy to extend lead

Seven-time world champion Sebastien Loeb won the Rally of Italy on Sunday for his 63rd career win and fourth in the race to reinforce his lead in the championship standings. Finland's Mikko Hirvonen finished in second place with Norwegian Petter Solberg in third. Loeb's compatriot and team-mate Sebastien Ogier who had been bidding for a third successive win of the season challenged strongly for the podium but he lost his chance when he suffered a broken suspension after hitting a stone on the 17th special stage. The young Frenchman finished fourth overall. Hirvonen limited the damage in the overall standings as he won the Power Stage new to the WRC this season to give him three extra championship points. There was also a small consolation for his Power Stage second-placed compatriot Jari-Matti Latvala who had lost all chance of overall victory because of a navigational error by his co-pilot on Friday