Jari-Matti Latvala of Finland yesterday took a 2.2-second lead in Rally Australia after an opening day marred by protesters who pelted cars with rocks and attempted to block race routes in the World Rally Championship event.
Environmental activists forced the cancelation of two of 15 scheduled stages yesterday that marked the international circuit’s return to Australia after a three-year absence.
Frenchman Sebastien Ogier, in a Citroen, was in second place overall with a further 20-second break to five-time world champion Sebastien Loeb.
PHOTO: AFP
They were followed by the Citroens of Spaniard Dani Sordo and Mikko Hirvonen of Finland.
Hirvonen has a three-point lead in the championship standings over Loeb with two rallies to go after the Australian event.
Latvala, behind the wheel of a Ford Focus, won the opening stage yesterday and finished no lower than third in the day’s other stages.
Hirvonen was driving with a look in the rearview mirror at Loeb, whose championship hopes will be improved if he finishes ahead of the French veteran.
“I am keeping my eye on Loeb,” Hirvonen said. “It’s interesting to see what the boys are doing. I am trying really hard and pushing as hard as I can.”
Police, meanwhile, continued investigations into the protesters.
New South Wales state police said they received reports yesterday morning of boulders placed on the roadway near the Byrill Creek stage of the rally and officers from the riot squad were called in to remove them.
Police said that midmorning, the first car to drive along the stage — Hirvonen — was hit by a number of rocks.
“While the driver of the car was not injured in the incident, organizers of the rally stopped the stage due to concerns for the safety of the drivers and spectators,” a police statement said.
The “No Rally” and Peacebus groups had staged a campaign leading up to Rally Australia, condemning the event for disrupting the environment in the hinterland site and frightening wildlife.
One local government official unsuccessfully attempted to get a court injunction last week to stop the rally, which is being held in this part of Australia for the first time. The last Rally Australia was held in 2006 in Western Australia state.
“Some people don’t like us in front of their house, but I didn’t ask to come here. I can understand why some people don’t like the rally, but I have to do my job,” Loeb said.
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