SS2 : Loeb wins stage

Sebastien Loeb has completed the second stage of Neste Oil Rally Finland with a lead of 1.7s over Citroen team-mate Sebastien Ogier.

With the overall positions at the end of this stage being used to determine the running order for Friday, it means Loeb will run at the head of the field on day two.

“There was not so much cleaning on this stage,” said Loeb. “I made no mistakes but now I will see for tomorrow.”

Jari-Matti Latvala, in a factory Ford Fiesta, admitted dropping time to gain a more advantageous road position for day two. “I had a target time sent by the team and I slowed down at the end of the stage,” said the Finn.

Ford privateer Jari Ketomaa, the winner of the opening stage, also dropped time to avoid running at the head of the field on day two. He is currently in fourth in the overall classification 2.7s behind Loeb.

There was more despair for Mikko Hirvonen following his off-road moment on the previous stage. The Ford driver reported the right-rear wheel of his stricken Fiesta RS WRC jammed approximately five kilometres from the end of the stage, which caused a puncture. He is almost 1m30s adrift of first place.

Matti Rantanen, who was sixth fastest on stage one, is reported to have suffered a heavy crash in his MINI John Cooper Works WRC.