End of Leg Report - Day Two

After the trials and tribulations of a wet and foggy opening day, competitors were greeted by more favourable conditions on the second day of Wales Rally GB.

Although many of the stages were rain-lashed, crews were at least spared the fog that had reduced visibility to almost nothing yesterday.

But while that made for easier driving conditions, it meant that the top order was more static that might usually have been the case.

Overnight leader Mikko Hirvonen ended the day about 30 seconds ahead of Marcus Gronholm, after taking it easy over the opening stages and settling back into action. Both Fords ran perfectly throughout the day, underlining the team’s dominance of this event.

“I wasn’t so fast on the early stages, because I missed them last year after crashing out and my experience wasn’t so great,” said Hirvonen. “Marcus has kept me under a bit of pressure today, but the gap is still looking good.”

Gronholm added: “It’s not so exciting for me.  I’d prefer to be flat out fighting for the win, but with the title still a possibility, I can’t fight and risk an accident.”

But it was neither of the Ford team leaders who were fastest over the day’s stages, that honour going to Stobart-backed Finn Jari-Matti Latvala, who set a string of six fastest times.

“Yesterday was disappointing, but the results today have been encouraging,” said Latvala. “The points positions are a long way off, but I’ll keep pushing to the end.”

The privateer is battling back into contention after his wipers failed on the final stage of Friday, losing him five minutes. He is now 13th overall after starting the day 15th.

Sebastien Loeb (Citroen) is in a lonely third place, a minute behind Gronholm but two minutes ahead of the chasing Petter Solberg (Subaru), as he cruises towards a fourth world title.

Loeb only has to finish fifth or higher to win the world title and is concentrating on not making any mistakes rather than going for the rally win.
“It’s a nervous rally for me, but I’m just braking early and trying to keep it smooth,” said Loeb.

In the British Rally Championship title battle, Guy Wilks (Mitsubishi) continues to lead by a minute from rival Mark Higgins (Mitsubishi).
Gwyndaf Evans, in another Mitsubishi, was second behind Wilks earlier in the day, but retired on stage 12 with gearbox failure.

Top Ten after SS13
1st 4: Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen
2nd 3: Marcus Gronholm/Timo Rautiainen
3rd 1: Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena
4th 7: Petter Solberg/Philip Mills
5th 2: Dani Sordo/Marc Marti
6th 8: Chris Atkinson/Stephane Prevot
7th 16: Matthew Wilson/Michael Orr
8th 5: Manfred Stohl/Ilka Minor
9th 17: Xavier Pons/Xavier Amigo
10th 20: Mads Ostberg/Ole Kristian Unnerud