Sébastien Loeb gets closer

On the atypical roads of Sa Linea (SS7), Sébastien Loeb was unable to narrow the gap. Worse, the Citroën driver gave up a little more ground to the Ford drivers, plunging the Citroën team into worry.

But the questions quickly faded from the first few meters of Fiorentini (SS8). Sébastien Loeb, like Dani Sordo a little later, was much faster than his rivals. In 22 kilometers, the championship leader took 13??4 from Latvala and 14??1 from Hirvonen.

In Monte Lerno, and its passage to more than 1000 meters of altitude, Loeb continued his effort by beating Hirvonen and Latvala by 3??4 and 11??1. Alas, with a minute late at the start of the special, the World Champion had to give ten seconds.

To return to the level of Jari-Matti Latvala this evening? even if the objective is to stay behind? Sébastien Loeb had to take 0??3 per kilometer from the current leader throughout the day. Without the penalty, the Citroën driver managed to beat the leader by 0??28/km this morning.

Starting in the middle of the peloton after his problems on the first day, Dani Sordo quickly moved up. Eighth this morning, the second Citroën driver is already in fifth place when he returns to Olbia. The fourth position currently occupied by Petter Solberg remains the objective of the Spaniard who has already got rid of Mads Ostberg, Henning Solberg and Evgeny Novikov.

After thirty minutes of service in Olbia, the crews will run the three special stages of the day a second time. Extremely difficult conditions are expected for this second passage.