SS13: Sixth stage win for ace Loeb

Sebastien Loeb will begin Saturday’s final stage 3.8s clear of Citroen team-mate Sebastien Ogier after setting the pace through the repeat of the Birkenfelder Land test.

Loeb was 0.4s faster than Ogier to claim his sixth stage win of the world championship qualifier.

Ford’s Mikko Hirvonen has trimmed the gap to third-placed MINI Dani Sordo to 27.2s. Kris Meeke, in the second factory MINI, dropped time nearing the end of the stage following a puncture.

Petter Solberg, in his privateer Citroen, also lost ground prior to the completion of the run after picking up a puncture.

Ex-Formula One world champion Kimi Raikkonen is now 1.0s behind Henning Solberg in the battle for eighth. Dennis Kuipers remains seventh after going fifth quickest.

Jari-Matti Latvala, in a works Fiesta, stopped in the stage to change a punctured tyre. Mads Ostberg was also delayed in his M-Sport Stobart Fiesta.