Kubica extends WRC 2 lead in Greece

Nine wins from 10 stages provided Robert Kubica with a comfortable 2min 20sec lead in the WRC 2 category going into tomorrow’s third and final leg of the Acropolis Rally.

The Pole won last night’s opening two tests before winning the first seven of today’s eight stages in his Citroen DS3 RRC. Only a final stage fastest time by Indonesia’s Subhan Aksa deprived Kubica of a clean sweep.

He was 38.2sec clear of Ukraine’s Yuriy Protasov last night and stretched that advantage by a minute during this morning’s four stages. He pulled further clear this afternoon in what is only his second gravel WRC outing.

“It’s been a good day for us, but very tough with two loops of difficult stages,” said Kubica. “Okay, the last one was not so bad but the other three were very rough – especially on the second pass.”

Protasov and series leader Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari enjoyed a thrilling battle for second. Protasov held the initiative in his Ford Fiesta RRC before the Qatari moved ahead on SS8 in a similar car, despite a broken anti-roll bar and overheating brakes.

However, the Ukraine driver regained second on the next test and ended the day 4.4sec ahead. “The route was very difficult with a lot of stones. I drove slowly because safety is better. I am gaining experience and I had no punctures today,” said Protasov.

“The stages were so rough that sometimes we couldn’t hold the steering wheel,” said Al-Kuwari. “It was really tough but we finished. Can I catch Protasov? I hope we can.”

Aksa lies fourth in another Fiesta RRC, with Oleksii Tamrazov completing the top five in a Fiesta S2000, the Ukraine pilot capitalising on a string of retirements ahead.

The Mini John Cooper Works cars of team-mates Valeriy Gorban and Oleksii Kikireshko were both sidelined in SS7 with broken front suspension, while Lorenzo Bertelli stopped with a broken cross-member after SS4.