SS5: Latvala takes the stage win

Jari-Matti Latvala set the fastest time through the repeated Hohlansbourg - ending Sebastien Loeb’s clean sweep of stage wins and narrowing the gap to fourth placed Dani Sordo.

Latvala, running third in Friday’s start order, now trails Sordo by just 3.7sec. At the stage end, Sordo said that he lost time with a mistake in the final section.

Compared to the earlier pass (as SS1) the road was drier, but numerous damp sections and dirt dragged onto the road kept grip levels inconsistent. As before, all WRC drivers elected to fit Pirelli’s soft-compound PZero tyres.

With a rally lead of 13.2sec, rally leader Sebastien Loeb admitted he had adopted a more cautious approach than earlier. “It was very, very muddy so I took it a bit easy with no big risks. I drove to how I was feeling - I hope it will be okay,” he said.

World Touring Car ace Yvan Muller failed to start the stage after picking up a mechanical problem with his ex Petter Solberg Citroen Xsara. The car’s engine stopped on the road section between SS4 and the remote service at Mulhouse. Muller retired but hopes to re-start on Saturday.