From the World Rally Championship
Sebastien Ogier is four stages away from a sensational debut victory on Rally New Zealand - providing he can fend off Sebastien Loeb on the final day of the world championship event. Loeb, the six-time world champion, was 1m19.8s adrift of the lead at the start of day two following a disastrous run through Friday’s fourth stage when he damaged his Citroen C4 WRC’s side door striking a bridge. But a sensational performance by Loeb has catapulted the world championship leader to within touching distance of a fourth consecutive win after he went fastest on all six of Saturday’s gravel stages. He will start day three of the Auckland-based event 5.3 seconds behind Citroen Junior Team driver Ogier, who is chasing his first WRC victory in only his second full season in the global series. Ogier began day two in third place behind Petter Solberg and Jari-Matti Latvala but moved ahead of the pair on Saturday’s opening New Franklin stage. With Solberg and Latvala fighting through the loose surface gravel, Ogier gradually pulled clear and cemented a strong morning with the fastest time through the all-asphalt Hampton Downs Super Special. Latvala is third overnight in his Ford Focus, 33.2 seconds behind Ogier. The Finn said he had been too cautious in the morning and also admitted he’d struggled adapting his pacenotes to suit the dry conditions after it had rained during reconnaissance. Dani Sordo returned to overnight service in Auckland in fourth, 6.1s ahead of Solberg. Solberg’s pursuit of his first WRC victory since 2005 appears to have fallen short after he slipped to fifth overall, 53.6s behind Ogier. The Norwegian suffered from running first on the road to the extent he conceded he was powerless to halt his disappointing slide down the leaderboard. Mikko Hirvonen’s navigator Jarmo Lehtinen was convinced his driver could fight for victory after completing day one 20.2 off first place. However, a spin seven kilometres from the end of the 20.82-kilometre New Franklin stage on Saturday morning has dictated otherwise. Rally New Zealand – Day 2: 1. Sébastien Ogier (Citroën C4 WRC) in 3h05’40’’4 2. Sébastien Loeb (Citroën C4 WRC) +5’’3 3. Jari-Matti-Latvala (Ford Focus RS WRC 09) +33’’22 4. Dani Sordo (Citroën C4 WRC) +47’’5 5. Petter Solberg (Citroën C4 WRC) +53’’6 6. Mikko Hirvonen (Ford Focus RS WRC 09) +1’00’’2 7. Matthew Wilson (Ford Focus RS WRC 08) +3’04’’9 8. Henning Solberg (Ford Focus C4 WRC 08) +5’41’’4 9. Jari Ketomaa (Ford Fiesta S2000) +8’12’’7 10. Federico Villagra (Ford Focus C4 WRC 08) +8’28’’8 etc.
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