Four-time world champion Sebastien Loeb of France won the event, collecting 10 points and is now just three points off the lead.
Loeb’s victory, the 40th of his career, was secured by just 10.4 seconds over Hirvonen.
The Citroen driver beat home Ford Focus pilot Mikko Hirvonen of Finland while another Finn Jari-Matti Latvala was third in a Ford Focus.
Loeb, who was winning along with co-pilot Daniel Elena his third Rally of Sardinia, had been ahead since the second special stage in a gripping contest.
“It’s been a difficult rally but we’re here! “ said Loeb. “I’ve had to push all the way for this result, but it was important for me to get good points here.
http://www.autoracingdaily.com/article/loe...ph-at-sardinia/Overall times after SS17 / Day 3 - Top 20:
1. Sebastien Loeb Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC 3hours 57mins 17.2secs M
2. Mikko Hirvonen BP Ford Abu Dhabi Focus RS WRC 07 +00mins 10.6secs M
3. Jari-Matti Latvala BP Ford Abu Dhabi Focus RS WRC 07 +00mins 15.3secs M
4. Gigi Galli Stobart VK Ford Focus WRC 07 +01mins 42.5secs MT
5. Daniel Sordo Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC +02mins 05.6secs M
6. Chris Atkinson Subaru WRT Impreza WRC 2007 +05mins 08.6secs M
7. Henning Solberg Munchi's Ford Focus WRC 07 +06mins 01.0secs MT
8. Urmo Aava PH Sport-Citroen C4 WRC +06mins 21.3secs A8
9. P-G Andersson Suzuki WRT SX4 WRC +07mins 48.7secs M
10. Petter Solberg Subaru WRT Impreza WRC 2007 +09mins 41.0secs M
11. Mads Ostberg Adapta-Subaru Impreza WRC +09mins 51.9secs A8
12. Matthew Wilson Stobart VK Ford Focus WRC 07 +10mins 17.3secs MT
13. Conrad Rautenbach PH Sport-Citroen C4 WRC +10mins 18.6secs A8
14. Federico Villagra Munchi's Ford Focus WRC 07 +11mins 01.3secs MT
15. Michal Kosciuszko Suzuki Swift S1600 +24mins 35.7secs J
16. Khalid Al-Qassimi BP Ford Abu Dhabi Focus RS WRC 07 +28mins 49.0secs A8
17. Alessandro Bettega Renault Clio R3 +29mins 00.6secs J
18. Moreno Cenedese Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +33mins 30.7secs N4
19. Fabio Frisiero Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +34mins 21.3secs N4
20. Aaron Burkart Citroen C2 S1600 +34mins 57.4secs J
World Rally Drivers' Championship (after 6 of 15 rounds):
1. Mikko Hirvonen BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07 43 points
2. Sebastien Loeb Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC 40 points
3. Chris Atkinson Subaru WRT Impreza WRC 2007 31 points
4. Jari-Matti Latvala BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07 24 points
5. Daniel Sordo Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC 21 points
6. Gigi Galli Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07 17 points
7. Henning Solberg Munchi's Ford Focus WRC 07 11 points
8. Petter Solberg Subaru WRT Impreza WRC 2007 9 points
9. Federico Villagra Munchi's Ford Focus WRC 07 8 points
10. Matthew Wilson Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07 7 points
11. Francois Duval Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07 5 points
= Conrad Rautenbach PH Sport-Citroen C4 WRC 5 points
13. Andreas Mikkelsen Ramsport Ford Focus WRC 06 4 points
14. Jean-Marie Cuoq Peugeot 307 WRC 2 points
= Toni Gardemeister Suzuki WRT SX4 WRC 2 points
16. P-G Andersson Suzuki WRT SX4 WRC 1 point
= Juho Hanninen Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV 1 point
= Sebastien Ogier Citroen C2 S1600 1 point
= Andreas Aigner Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 1 point
= Urmo Aava PH Sport-Citroen C4 WRC 1 point
http://www.crash.net/motorsport/wrc/news/1..._standings.html