Loeb facing tough test in Finland

WORLD rally championship leader Sebastien Loeb faces probably his toughest challenge of the season this weekend as he bids for hisfirst victory on the Rally Finland.

The Citroen driver has astonished the rally world this year after winning a record six events in a row and seven in a season, carving out a comfortable 27-point lead at the top of the championship standings from Subaru rival Petter Solberg just over halfway through the campaign.

However, the Frenchman‘s blistering form could hit a rocky patch this weekend as he looks for his seventh consecutive victory, with Loeb having a surprisingly poor record across the fast Finnish gravel stages with his best result to date, fourth place last year.

It is more commonly an event that is won by its countrymen, but Loeb has not let that put him off targeting the top spot.