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DUBLIN - Citroen's triple world champion Sebastien Loeb looked more and more the title favourite after cementing his lead in Rally Ireland on Saturday.
The Frenchman, on course to take the overall lead in the championship after Ford's Marcus Gronholm crashed out on Friday, ended the wet second.3 seconds clear of Spanish team mate Dani Sordo.
Finland's Jari-Matti Latvala remained in third place for Stobart Ford, a further minute and 9.5 seconds adrift, despite going off into a field on the day's first stage.
Finland's Mikko Hirvonen, who will seal the manufacturers' championship for Ford if he finishes sixth or higher, was a solid fourth. The team lead Citroen by 34 points with 36 still to be won.
"I didn't need to attack, I just need to finish and take those three points for Ford," said Hirvonen of his day. "I drove so steadily that I couldn't find a rhythm but I guess that didn't matter.
"I'm not trying to catch Jari-Matti and my plan for tomorrow will be the same as today."
Gronholm led Loeb, who is chasing his fourth successive championship, by four points before Ireland but can now expect to be six behind the Frenchman going into the final round of the season in Britain next month.
The Finn was not able to rejoin the rally on Saturday for safety reasons after the crash, in which he was unhurt, damaged the roll cage of his car.
Loeb played safe on narrow and twisty roads made more treacherous by standing water after heavy rain, but he still won the day's first three stages near Enniskillen in Northern Ireland.
"Today's stages were perhaps slightly wider in places," said Loeb in a team statement. "However all the puddles, running water and mud meant we still needed to take it very carefully. Having to cope with this situation is not something I enjoy.
"I tried to push hard to stay concentrated but I lifted over the trickier, more difficult portions. I'm glad today is behind us," added the Frenchman.
Sunday's final leg covers both sides of the Irish border, with two stages in the north and two final stages in the south with the last 2.38km run at Mullaghmore along the Donegal coastline before the formal finish in Sligo.
- REUTERS
