Miami GP || May 5 || 16h00 (Local time)

Leaders clear the Super Special hurdle

Hirvonen retains the lead

By Franck Drui

12 February 2010 - 21:38

Three and a half hours after the last forest stage, SS7, Friday’s competition on Rally Sweden concluded with a second night-time blast around the Super Special in Karlstad.

As they had on Thursday night, thousands of spectators braved sub zero temperatures to watch the drivers tackle the ice covered figure-of-eight track two at a time.

Defending world champion Sebastien Loeb set the fastest time in his Citroen C4 WRC, with his team-mate - and Thursday night’s Super Special winner - Dani Sordo second. Loeb’s scorching time edged him 2.4 sec closer to overnight leader Mikko Hirvonen, reducing the deficit to 6.2 sec.

After spinning and losing his bumper on Thursday’s pass, Citroen privateer Petter Solberg enjoyed better luck today and set the third fastest time. Marcus Gronholm was fourth with rally leader Hirvonen rounding off the top five times.

The only change in the top 20 positions was Matthew Wilson, who slipped 0.8sec behind Mads Ostberg into eighth place.

Rally standings after SS8:

Pos.	Driver	Car	Time
01	Mikko HIRVONEN	Ford Focus WRC	1h08m04.8s
02	Sébastien LOEB	Citroën C4 WRC	+6.2s
03	Dani SORDO	Citroën C4 WRC	+10.6s
04	Jari-Matti LATVALA	Ford Focus WRC	+31.7s
05	Sébastien OGIER	Citroën C4 WRC	+1m10.9s
06	Henning SOLBERG	Ford Focus WRC	+2m16.2s
07	Mads ÖSTBERG	Subaru Impreza WRC	+3m20.2s
08	Matthew WILSON	Ford Focus WRC	+3m21.1s
09	P-G ANDERSSON	Skoda Fabia S2000	+4m16.1s
10	Janne TUOHINO	Ford Fiesta S2000	+5m15.3s
11	Andreas MIKKELSEN	Ford Fiesta S2000	+5m18.7s
12	Martin PROKOP	Ford Fiesta S2000	+5m41.2s
13	Petter SOLBERG	Citroën C4 WRC	+6m45.3s
14	Patrik FLODIN	Subaru Impreza	+6m54.6s
15	Patrik SANDELL	Skoda Fabia S2000	+7m01.8s