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PARIS - Sebastien Loeb moved close to a record fifth Monte Carlo victory by extending his lead on the penultimate day of the season opening world championship rally on Saturday.
Frenchman Loeb clocked the fastest time in all but two of the day's six timed stages on mostly dry mountain roads in south-eastern France and moved further ahead overall after the withdrawal of his Citroen team mate Dani Sordo.
Spain's Sordo, who had been the only driver able to follow the pace set by Loeb since the rally started on Thursday, was second overall when he retired with an engine problem in the day's third timed stage.
Sordo's misfortune promoted Ford's Mikko Hirvonen into second place overall. The Finn ended the day a distant two minutes and 10 second behind four-times world champion Loeb.
The day's fourth section ended the hopes of Hirvonen's team mate and compatriot Jari-Matti Latvala, who retired because of a damaged suspension.
Subaru's Chris Atkinson was the fastest through the day's penultimate timed staged, beating Loeb by almost 10 seconds to become the first non-Citroen driver to win a stage so far in the event. The Australian was third overall, over three minutes off the pace.
There will be four timed stages on Sunday before the rally ends with a sprint on the harbour section of the Monaco Grand Prix circuit.
- REUTERS
