SS13: Loeb takes Acropolis Rally lead

Sebastien Loeb has moved into the lead of the Acropolis Rally following the Nea Politia night stage to bring the second day of the Acropolis Rally to a dramatic close.

World champion Loeb started the stage in second position but moved ahead of Citroen team-mate Sebastien Ogier, who reported losing time in hanging dust.

“I was pushing hard but it was very slippery in some places,” said Loeb, who will run first on the road on the final day. “There was a lot of dust in the start of the stage and I thought I would lose one minute but then it was finished after four kilometres.”

Ogier was 17.3s slower than Loeb in the stage and falls 2.2s behind him in the overall classification: “I don’t know where I am. It was very difficult on this stage. I was in dust all the time. It was difficult to drive.”

Petter Solberg completed the stage with the fourth fastest time in his privateer Citroen and is 20.9 behind Loeb overnight. He said: “We had a big problem in the stage and lost a lot of time. We got lost with the pacenotes but that’s how it is.”

Mikko Hirvonen was 2.1s slower than Loeb in his factory Ford Fiesta RS WRC and begins day two in fourth, 22.4s adrift of first place. “It was okay, there was dust in places but it was not too bad,” said the Finn. “It was not such a level playing field but we are in a good position for tomorrow and we can still fight. The game is on.”

Hirvonen’s Ford team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala set the fastest time on the stage. He said: “I kept it going and wanted to come fast. It went well and I was happy. I enjoyed driving in the night.”

Standings after SS13: