SS10: Stage win for Latvala as Ogier leads

Jari-Matti Latvala has claimed Ford’s first stage win of this year’s Acropolis Rally as Sebastien Ogier moves ahead of Petter Solberg in the battle for world championship glory in Greece.

Solberg started day two leading by 51.6s in his privateer Citroen DS3 WRC but has slipped back to second behind Ogier following the repeated Klenia Mycenae stage. “It definitely cleans a bit and I am losing a bit but I am pushing, trying hard,” said Solberg. “I will do whatever I can to win.”

Ogier, who was second fastest to Latvala through the stage, now leads by 6.3s in his factory Citroen. He said: “It’s very good and I push very hard. I have a good feeling with the car and we continue like this. The plan is to go for it and see what happens.”

Sebastien Loeb, who is third overall, 13.4s behind team-mate Ogier, said: “We have to keep the contact with Ogier for sure. I don’t want to let him go too far in front but it’s rough so I am between pushing on the limit and taking a bit of care of the car.”

Mikko Hirvonen was 4.9s slower than Ogier through the stage in his Ford Fiesta RS WRC after surviving a scare through two trees lining the road approximately one kilometre from the flying finish. “That was a close call,” he said. “Luckily there was no damage on the car but I lost just a bit. Luckily we are here.”

Henning Solberg lost a few seconds when he went straight on into a field. He remains fifth overall ahead of Matthew Wilson, who said he was still being slowed by the misfire that has hampered his M-Sport Stobart Fiesta throughout the morning.

Stage winner Latvala admitted his fastest stage time meant little following his time loss on Friday with a differential fault and on Saturday morning with a lack of turbo boost. “It doesn’t change my result but it’s good to have the fastest stage time as it confirms when everything is fixed the car is quick and I have a good feeling with it,” he said.

Standings after SS10 :