Saturday midday wrap: Loeb heads close battle

The battle for victory on Philips Rally Argentina, round five of the FIA World Rally Championship powered by Nokia, remains tightly poised with Citroen aces Sebastien Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen separated by a scant 2.1s after nine stages.

Loeb extended his overnight lead of 0.1s by winning Saturday’s first stage, which was mainly dry despite overnight rain, but a brace for Hirvonen has fired the Finn back into contention for top honours on the demanding South American event.

The Citroen team-mates have been allowed to fight for glory rather than hold station due to the threat posed by the chasing Dani Sordo in the leading factory Ford Fiesta. Although the Spaniard has slipped back as a result of tyre selection issues, he remains in third overall and ready to pounce should either Citroen driver slip up in the afternoon.

Indeed, Loeb reported a near miss on stage nine when his DS3 WRC briefly left the road where the car’s sump guard struck a rock with some force. The Frenchman said he lost confidence as a result.

Vodafone Rally de Portugal winner Mads Ostberg is fourth overall in his Adapta Fiesta with Nasser Al-Attiyah completing stage nine in fifth position. However, with the Qatari’s Citroen sporting considerable right-rear suspension damage following contact with a rock nearing the stage finish, the Production Car world champion could be forced to retire from day two.

Martin Prokop stands to gain the most if Al-Attiyah is unable to continue because it would elevate the Czech into fifth position.

Andreas Mikkelsen heads Sebastien Ogier in the battle of the Volkswagen Motorsport drivers. Mikkelsen, competing in Argentina for the first time, was 0.1s faster than his team-mate through the 39.74-kilometre ninth stage.

Armindo Araujo is ninth for the WRC Team MINI Portugal operation with Thierry Neuville 10th on his return under Rally 2 regulations. The Belgian reported a spin and a stall on stage nine.

Petter Solberg has set top-three stages times throughout the morning in his Fiesta, which has been restored to full working order following his retirement from the lead on Friday afternoon.

Evgeny Novikov is also back in action after failing to get through Friday’s second stage due to broken suspension. He is 12th overall in his M-Sport Fiesta. Team-mate Ott Tanak was another driver to hit trouble on Friday. His restart on Saturday has netted a succession of top-five stage times.

Daniel Oliveira’s bid for a points finish suffered a blow when a powersteering glitch developed on stage eight. The Brazil World Rally Team driver has slipped to 15th overall as a result.

Overnight leader Nicolas Fuchs continues to head the Production Car World Rally Championship standings although the Peruvian looked to be in trouble on stage seven with a differential fault. However, with rival Michal Kosciuszko’s similar Mitsubishi Lancer picking up an oil pressure problem at the end of stage eight, Fuchs is back in front by a margin of 42.1s.