SS3 : Ostberg extends lead in Sweden

Mads Ostberg continues to lead Rally Sweden in his Ford Fiesta RS WRC.

The Norwegian, who set the pace through Friday’s first test, was again fastest on stage three. As a result he has extended his overall advantage over Mikko Hirvonen to 9.1s.

Hirvonen, in the first of the factory Fiestas, was fourth fastest through the stage after losing crucial seconds when he hit a snow bank and briefly ended up on two wheels approximately eight kilometres into the run.

Although it has now stopped snowing, drivers at the head of the field are still losing ground clearing the road of the loose surface snow for those running further behind. While world champion Sebastien Loeb has lost considerable ground as a result to the extent he is now 1m09.1s off the lead in seventh place, Ostberg, who is running ninth on the road, has made the most of his starting position to hold top spot.

PG Andersson, who is fighting to recover the time he lost when he rolled on stage two, set an identical time to Ostberg in his privately-run Fiesta. The Swede has now moved into sixth overall.

Sebastien Ogier, who remains in fifth place in his Citroen DS3 WRC, was third fastest on the stage.

Jari-Matti Latvala was third overall after stage two but lost ground on stage three after reportedly striking a snow bank and removing the front bumper from his Fiesta. He has dropped to fifth behind 2003 world champion Petter Solberg.

Standings after SS3: