Solberg wins in Sardinia

Sardinia:

World champion Petter Solberg won his third race in succession to keep title rival Sebastien Loeb at bay in the Rally of Italy on Sunday. The Subaru-driving Norwegian won 13 of the 19 stages in the rally held for the first time on the gravel roads of Sardinia to notch up his fifth victory of the year. Loeb, who could have clinched the title by beating Solberg, is 26 points clear in the standings after 13 rounds, with three races left in Corsica, Spain and Australia. Solberg's third straight victory in Sardinia follows wins in Japan and Britain and is his fifth in the 2004 championship. Each win awards 10 points. Second place gives 8 points. (AP)