Loeb pulls ahead on Sunday’s opener

The two-way scrap for victory on Wales Rally GB between Sebastien Loeb and Petter Solberg swung back firmly in Loeb’s favour on Sunday’s opener, when a stunning stage win jumped the Frenchman’s lead into double figures.

Seven-time world champion Loeb began the stage 4.8sec ahead of Solberg, but had extended this to 11.5sec by the end of the 29.99km Resolfen test in south Wales.

“That’s very good, it was a difficult stage,” said Loeb at the finish control. “The grip was not so bad, but it was changeable and there were a lot of hidden corners. I was hesitating a bit with my driving, but for sure I am fighting.”

Solberg lost most of the time in the final section, but wasn’t completely sure why. “It was just very, very muddy and tricky - maybe I was backing off a little?” he said. “He took time in the narrow sections when he cut [the corners] and pulled mud onto the road. It was a bit like Saturday on the tarmac section. He’s pushing hard. And he has a manufacturer car!”

Behind the lead pair, Mikko Hirvonen gave away more time to his chasing team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala, leaving Latvala just 3.2 seconds off the final step of the podium. With Hirvonen unlikely to offer much real resistance, Latvala is on course to take the runner-up spot in this year’s drivers’ championship should Solberg remain second. Latvala didn’t have an easy start to the day, however, as his Ford’s steering column came loose midway through the stage.

In the S-WRC competition, title hopeful Jari Ketomaa’s challenge ended when his Fiesta S2000 stopped 22km into the stage.