Loeb extends lead in Monte Carlo
Citroen's Sebastien Loeb extended his lead in the Monte Carlo rally on Thursday while fellow-Frenchman Sebastien Ogier crashed heavily and retired.
The eight times world champion ended the second leg of the season-opening event with a lead of one minute 37 seconds over Spaniard Dani Sordo in a Mini, with Ford's Norwegian Petter Solberg in third place a mere three seconds behind.
Loeb's former teammate Ogier, driving a Super2000 specification Skoda before returning with Volkswagen for a full challenge next season, had kept up with the leaders in the icy conditions but crashed on the day's final stage. He and co-driver Julien Ingrassia were unhurt.
"Today was easier than yesterday, more like a normal Tarmac rally but it was still tricky because it was very muddy in places," said Loeb, fastest on five of the day's six stages, "but I was feeling good so I tried to push. I don't know what will happen tomorrow and with the conditions suiting me today I tried to take everything I can."
Citroen's Mikko Hirvonen, last year's championship runner-up who has moved from Ford to become Loeb's teammate, was in fourth place.
The most prestigious and historic rally in the championship, as well as one of the toughest, ends in the Mediterranean principality on Sunday after 18 special stages including the spectacular Col du Turini.
2012 Monte Carlo Rally
Standings after Stage 10
1. Sébastien Loeb (FRA/Citroen) 2 h 45:56.9,
2. Dani Sordo (ESP/Mini) +1:37.2,
3. Petter Solberg (NOR/Ford) +1:40.9,
4. Mikko Hirvonen (FIN/Citroen) +3:40.4,
5. Evgeny Novikov (RUS/Ford) +3:51.5,
6. François Delecour (FRA/Ford) +5:19.9,
7. Pierre Campana (FRA/Mini) +6:49.6,
8. Ott Tanak (EST/Ford) +7:00.6
Stage winners:
Loeb 8 (SS1, SS3 to SS7, SS9, SS10)
Latvala 1 (SS2)
Sordo 1 (SS8)
Principal retirements:
Jari-Matti Latvala (FIN/Ford Fiesta RS) (SS4)
Thierry Neuville (BEL/Citroen DS3) (SS4)
Sébastien Ogier (FRA/Škoda Fabia S2000) (SS10)
AFP