SS14: Stage win for Citroen star Ogier

Mikko Hirvonen has opened up a slender 6.2s advantage on Rally Sweden following the second run through the Fredriksberg stage.

And there was more good news for the factory Ford squad when Hirvonen’s team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala closed to within 7.8s of the lead, 1.6s behind second-placed Mads Ostberg with the third fastest time through the stage.

“I’m quite satisfied for that,” said Latvala. “I was concentrating to keep the car in the ruts and the ruts were cleaning a little bit by the guys in front.”

The Citroen Total World Rally Team also had plenty to celebrate when Sebastien Ogier went fastest through the stage in his Citroen DS3 WRC, 3.3s quicker than team-mate and seven-time world champion Sebastien Loeb managed. As a result, Ogier is 28.4s off top spot heading to stage 15.

“That was okay, there is nothing I can do, we just have to finish,” said Loeb, who remains in sixth overall, almost two minutes behind Ogier. “I am driving on a good rhythm but no big risks.”

Petter Solberg was fourth quickest through the stage and is 14.9s behind Hirvonen. It means that with one forest stage remaining before the end of day two, as many as five drivers are in with a shot of victory on Rally Sweden.

Kimi Raikkonen has overtaken PG Andersson for seventh overall as Andersson continues to drop back with a powersteering glitch.

Standings after SS14: