SS8 : Stage win for Loeb

Sebastien Loeb was fastest through Friday’s final all-gravel stage in Mexico.

However, crucially for Loeb, the world champion remains behind Citroen team-mate Sebastien Ogier in the overall standings.

With the running order for day two decided by the overall classification after stage eight, it means that Loeb will run second on the road behind Ogier on Saturday regardless of the outcome of the closing brace of superspecials in Leon later tonight.

Ogier, who is still the subject of a stewards enquiry due to a possible rule infringement prior to midday service, will be tasked with the tough job of cleaning the road of the loose surface gravel for the drivers running further down the order on day two.

He said: “For the team it’s important to stay in the lead.”

Petter Solberg was third fastest behind Ogier despite reporting that the handbrake wasn’t working on his Citroen DS3 WRC throughout the stage. There are some very twisty sections so this is very disappointing,” said the Norwegian.

Solberg’s older brother Henning Solberg said he lost “a lot of time” after spinning his Ford Fiesta RS WRC. Meanwhile, Jari-Matti Latvala was the fastest factory Ford driver through the stage in fourth overall.

Ken Block is reported to have stopped in the stage in his Monster World Rally Team Fiesta with a suspected mechanical problem.

Crews are now returning to service in Leon. The first of two superspecial stages at Leon’s race circuit gets underway at 19:45hrs local time.

Standings after SS8: