Rallying: It's a Loeb thing as Frenchman sets blistering pace

Only a miracle will prevent Sebastien Loeb from becoming the first French winner of the Rally of New Zealand after a world champion-like performance on the switchback roads of Northland.

After two days and 16 of 20 special stages, Loeb had stretched out a 50-second lead last night - and even he admits that he can afford to throttle back when he heads into the Waikato this morning.

It has been a crushing display of superiority, and all the more remarkable considering that Citroen has handled its previous visits to New Zealand with all the aplomb of an out-of-sorts French rugby team on a wet night in Dunedin.

An exhaustive re-working of the Xsara World Rally Car's suspension and its complex, electronically-controlled four-wheel-drive system have finally tamed the handling while, as if to emphasise that this is a truly French success, Michelin's latest tyres have had the measure of the Pirellis used by Peugeot and Subaru.

A blistering time on the final long stage around Paparoa left even Marcus Gronholm trailing by 17 seconds and effectively ended the battle for the lead. Loeb didn't mind admitting he had teetered on the brink of disaster at times, promising that he had to be hyper-concentrated to set the pace.

"The last stage was very hard for the tyres. They were conditions I like: there was good grip and I could attack to the maximum from start to finish.

"I thought we could be faster than the others on that stage, so I tried to push. The important thing now is not to make a mistake and keep a good rhythm," Loeb said.

His mastery of the conditions has left Gronholm disconsolate and Petter Solberg deflated. The former snatched second yesterday afternoon for Peugeot, as abrasive surfaces and bright sunshine all but peeled the tread from Solberg's Pirellis.

But he drew little satisfaction from overhauling the Norwegian's Subaru. "It was not really a good pace compared to Loeb. He was flying. They have found something with the tyres.

"Even Solberg is struggling. If I can be second that's the best I can get out of this," said Gronholm.

Solberg has been reduced to praying for rain today and doubts he can turn the tables on Gronholm otherwise.

World Rally Championship regulations not only restrict the number of tyres but the number of tread patterns available. Neither of Subaru's two patterns are equal to dry roads.

In contrast, the Michelin Z is not only quick but versatile, and Solberg could come under attack from Loeb's Belgian team-mate Francois Duval today. "We need some new things. I am not superman," said Solberg.

His new Australian team-mate Chris Atkinson has been the find of the season and managed two fastest stage times - one more than Solberg - on Friday.

However, he struggled to tame his Subaru's handling yesterday and dropped from fifth to seventh, behind Ford's Finn Toni Gardemeister and Gronholm's team-mate Markko Martin when one of his front tyres delaminated on SS14.

Atkinson is here to learn and can cope with the disappointment.

Solberg will find it harder.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY