SS12: Loeb flies through the ruts in Sweden

Sebastien Loeb has made light work of the ruts that dogged several leading crews through the rerun of the Lesjofors stage on Rally Sweden by setting the fastest time on the test.

The Citroen DS3 WRC ace was more than six seconds faster than Ford Fiesta RS WRC pilot Jari-Matti Latvala with Sebastien Ogier third quickest in another factory DS3 WRC.

“We had no problem in this stage, no puncture,” said Loeb. “It’s getting better but we’re still far behind.”

Latvala suffered a brief spin two kilometres from the end of stage 12: “Honestly it’s been the quickest spin in my life. I can drive faster when I am in the ruts and it’s something I have been practicing a lot during the testing in December.”

Petter Solberg set the fourth fastest time and said at the end of the stage that he needed to make changes to the set-up of his DS3 WRC if he is to narrow the 30.9s gap to leader Mikko Hirvonen, who was fifth quickest.

“I have to establish a big lead for tomorrow but it’s not easy at all because there is a deep line you have to follow. There is gravel but there is so much snow and if you can’t keep in the line you lose it completely.”

Erstwhile leader Mads Ostberg was particularly vocal at the end of the stage, reporting significant time loss driving through the ruts as he fell 12.6s behind Hirvonen.

“The car doesn’t fit into the lines of the Swedish championship cars,” said Ostberg. “It’s impossible, there is nothing I can do. I cleaned so much for the cars behind me. It’s worse than the first time through because I don’t fit in the tracks of the smaller cars.”

Production Car World Rally Championship leader Anders Grondal stops on the road section heading to stage 12, handing Martin Semerad first place in class.

Standings after SS12: