Citroen Total team leader Sebastien Loeb finally edged Jari-Matti Latvala out of the lead of Rally Australia on the short CTEK West stage (SS21) and consolidated the position on the 20.31km Dayco (SS22) which followed.
Whether he will choose to keep his 11.1sec advantage or deliberately surrender it to get a better road position for the rally’s final - and longest - day will become clear on the next test, (SS23) which determines Sunday’s start order.
At the finish control Loeb admitted he hadn’t decided what to do yet. “At the moment we have good grip and a good feeling. It’s okay. But I expect if I stay in this position I will have no chance tomorrow - that’s the problem,” he said.
Loeb’s team-mate Dani Sordo was second fastest on the stage, to move into fourth overall. WRC
Mikko Hirvonen, author of this stage’s third-best result, was unhappy with the 3.6sec he conceded to his championship rival Loeb, but was pleased to have gotten through another tricky run on the Dayco stage. He also had a repeat encounter with the mailbox which broke a rear side window this morning.
The overall lead Sebastien Loeb holds on his closest pursuer now measures 11.1 seconds; that pursuer is now Mikko Hirvonen, who gained a position at teammate Jari-Matti Latvala’s expense, now 2.8sec behind. Dani Sordo also moved up one spot, taking over fourth place in the general standings following the half-minute Sebastien Ogier lost on this run.
“At the moment we have good grip and a good feeling,” Loeb said as he weighed his options. “But I expect if I stay in this position I will have no chance tomorrow; that’s the problem.” Yahoo Eurosports!
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