Sweden: Latvala moves closer to victory

Mikko Hirvonen (Citroën) still had hope of catching up with Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford) by putting pressure on him. But the leader of Rally of Sweden quickly calmed the enthusiasm of his former teammate by signing the first two scratches of the morning. The Fiesta RS driver WRC returns to the service park with a lead of 35??6 with two stages to go (plus the Hagfors Power Stage).

Petter Solberg (Ford) managed to keep his third place in the face of attacks from Mads Ostberg, but the latter is gradually coming back on the 2003 world champion and is only 4??9 behind at midday. the last step. Evgeny Novikov (Ford) is comfortably installed in fifth position and is not threatened by a return from Sébastien Loeb (Citroën) since the Alsatian is more than 40 seconds behind the Russian. The eight-time world champion can only be content with securing his position against Hennng Solberg (Ford), pushed back more than 20 seconds.

Patrik Sandell (Mini), Martin Prokop and Eyvind Brynildsen (Ford) complete the top ten ahead Sébastien Ogier and Andreas Mikkelsen (Skoda). The Frenchman now has a 15??3 lead over his Volkswagen Motorsport teammate. Thierry Neuville falling to 14th position at 8??1 from the Proton Satria S2000 of PG Andersson.

The crews will leave at 12:08 p.m. to compete in the second passage of the special stages on the program for the last stage (42,4km timed). The Hagfors Power Stage (first pass won by Mads Ostberg) promises a tough battle for bonus points, with drivers reporting that the course was already in very poor condition with many stones on the road.