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Grapevine: Hirvonen takes lead in Castrol EDGE

Mikko Hirvonen's Rally Sweden victory not only put him at the head of the World Rally Championship, it also gave him the lead of the Castrol EDGE Race for 2011

The Finn's win, which came by just 6.5 seconds from Mads Ostberg, was his 13th in Ford machinery making him the manufacturer's most successful WRC driver in terms of victories.

It also helped him unseat Dakar Rally winner Nasser Al-Attiyah as the leader of the Castrol EDGE Race for 2011. However, as his win was a repeat of his success 12 months ago, his Castrol Rankings position of 42nd remains unchanged.

Ostberg's (237) first WRC podium netted the Stobart Ford driver an 89-place rise in the Castrol Rankings, while third place for Jari-Matti Latvala's works machine kept him as the Rankings' top Finn in 21st place.

Sebastien Ogier, who finished fourth for Citroen, was the highest-placed climber in the Castrol Rankings as he moved ahead of IndyCar ace Ryan Briscoe for 19th spot. His Citroen team-mate Sebastien Loeb failed to overhaul Mark Webber for second overall, after finishing sixth in Sweden.

Former F1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen (152) began to reverse a downward trend in the Castrol Rankings that began a year ago. The Ice 1 Racing Citroen man finished eighth and gained 29 places.

Jules Bianchi (64) opened the new GP2 Asia season with a victory at Yas Marina, netting the ART driver a seven-place rise in the Castrol Rankings and fourth spot in the Castrol EDGE Race for 2011 after he beat DAMS driver Romain Grosjean (78) in a straight fight. Grosjean himself gained 11 spots, despite being spun out of race two on the opening lap.

The big loser in the field was defending champion Davide Valsecchi (66), who failed to repeat his victory from last year's opener and dropped 23 places, the Team AirAsia man losing his status as Italy's top driver to ex-Force India F1 man Vitantonio Liuzzi.

There were also big drops for new Ocean recruit Oliver Turvey (76), Addax driver Charles Pic (84) and Coloni's Michael Herck (149) as the trio lost 12, 10 and 28 places respectively.

Yas Marina also played host to the opening round of the Australian V8 Supercar Championship, with Jamie Whincup winning the first race of the season for a third straight year in his Triple 8 Holden, and cementing his 87th spot in the Castrol Rankings.

James Courtney kicked off his title defence with a new squad, the Holden Racing Team, and a victory in race two and gained two places as a result.

The manner of his victory was spectacular as he swapped the lead with Jason Bright's BJR Ford three times on the last lap. Bright (328), who has not won a race for five years, made up 25 places.

To see the full Castrol Rankings and Castrol EDGE Race for 2011, please visit www.castroldriverrankings.com.

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