SS9: Solberg’s Acropolis lead slashed

Sebastien Ogier has completed Saturday morning’s loop of three stages 5.4s adrift of overall leader Petter Solberg.

Ogier, in a works Citroen DS3 WRC, has been fastest on all three stages this morning to cancel out Solberg’s comfortable overnight advantage: “It was a great morning for us, almost perfect,” he said. “I’m happy.”

World champion Sebastien Loeb, who is running second on the road behind Solberg, has moved to within 15 seconds of the Norwegian. “I was pushing,” he said. “The others behind will be faster because this one was cleaning. Petter was fast so this is better than nothing. We are less than 20 seconds behind now.”

Hirvonen is the leading Ford Fiesta RS WRC driver, 23.8s behind Solberg. He was second fastest through the stage: “It’s something but Ogier is really flying. I have a good feeling and a nice rhythm but it’s not enough. I’ll keep trying. We are still in it. Even though it’s rough nobody is backing off. You have to hope for the best.”

Henning Solberg started the stage one minute late while he tried to fix a brake problem that delayed him on the previous test.

Standings after SS9: