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.
Taiwan kept their hopes of advancing to next year’s World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Saturday, backed by solid pitching. Taiwan last night played against Nicaragua. As of press time, Nicaragua was leading 6-0. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan on Saturday kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen struck out one and allowed no hits, except for a hit-by-pitch over
Taiwan kept its hopes of advancing to the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome last night, backed by solid pitching. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. The win was crucial for Taiwan, as a loss would have eliminated the team from contention for the next WBC. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen (沙子宸) struck out one and allowed no hits, except for
Team Taiwan are set to face Spain in a win-or-go-home match tonight for the final berth at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), despite losing to Nicaragua 6-0 in the WBC qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Sunday. The home team’s loss on Sunday means Nicaragua finish first in the qualifier round in Taipei with a perfect 3-0 record and advances to next year’s finals. After crushing South Africa 9-1 earlier on Sunday, Spain took second place in the four-team qualifier with a 2-1 record. With a 1-2 record, Taiwan finished third while South Africa placed at the bottom with
Team Taiwan avoided missing the World Baseball Classic (WBC) for the first time by defeating Spain 6-3 in a do-or-die game in Taipei last night. After narrowly escaping a mercy-rule loss to Spain in the WBC Qualifiers opener on Friday last week, the home team — winner of last year's WBSC Premier12 title three months ago — got their revenge against the 2023 European champions at Taipei Dome. "It felt quite different from when we won the Premier12," Taiwan captain Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) said after the game, recalling the ups and downs the team has experienced over the past few days. Unlike in
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