SS7: Loeb hits back in Finland

Sebastien Loeb has hit back in the battle for first place on Neste Oil Rally Finland, round eight of the FIA World Rally Championship.

Loeb led Citroen team-mate Mikko Hirvonen by 3.8s following stage six of the high-speed gravel rally but is now 6.2s clear following another impressive performance at the wheel of his DS3 WRC.

“I tried hard again, which is what I do since the start, but Mikko has found a really fast rhythm today,” said Loeb, who trailed Hirvonen on the previous two stages. “But I’m happy with my driving, it was a bit better on this stage.”

Hirvonen’s bid to catch team-mate Loeb suffered a setback when he dropped 2.4s to Loeb. He said: “The stage didn’t go so well. The stage was twisty and rocky but we try again on the next one.”

Jari-Matti Latvala said he couldn’t pinpoint why he continues to lose time to leader Loeb in his factory Ford Fiesta RS WRC. “I’m really trying, trying to do my best but it’s not happening, I don’t know why,” said Latvala, who was 1.9s slower than Loeb but 0.3s quicker than team-mate Petter Solberg.

Martin Prokop said some pace note errors caused to him go off the road on a handful of occasions in his Czech Ford National Team Fiesta. He continues to trail Matti Rantanen, despite the Finn admitting he wasn’t happy with his performance at the wheel of his privateer Fiesta.