SS16: Solberg up to fifth in Germany

Citroen privateer Petter Solberg has moved ahead of Kris Meeke into fifth overall after the MINI driver went off the road into a vineyard as a result of what he described as an “optimistic” pace note.

“I kept the speed the whole way but it’s a long way to go and I have to keep on pushing,” said Solberg.

In the battle for third, Ford’s Mikko Hirvonen has sneaked closer to MINI’s Dani Sordo, despite almost going off the road in his Fiesta RS WRC. The battling aces are separated by 25.9s heading to service in Trier.

“I don’t take many risks to take care with the tyres,” said Sordo. “I know the Citroens are not pushing really hard but it’s okay.”

Hirvonen said: “I was so close to going off the road, I was leaning in the vineyards for a long, long time but I managed to get it back.”

Sebastien Ogier continues to adopt a cautious approach in his efforts to preserve his overall lead in his Citroen DS3 WRC. “I am taking it safely for sure,” he said. “I stay in the middle of the road and avoid the cuts and the punctures. My gravel crew has done a good job this weekend.”

Citroen team-mate Sebastien Loeb, whose run of eight victories in Germany is on the verge of coming to an end, is 1m01.3s behind Ogier with three stages remaining.

A handbrake problem is hampering Henning Solberg, who reported stalling twice in his M-Sport Stobart Fiesta.

Jari-Matti Latvala took his third stage win of the event. The Ford driver, who has restarted under SupeRally rules following his crash on Saturday, said: “It was a good run, I pushed because I wanted to get my confidence back after yesterday.”

Standings after SS16: