SS13: Back-to-back stage wins for Solberg

Novikov hits trouble and fails to start stage

Citroen star Sebastien Loeb has completed the final all-gravel stage of Rally Guanajuato Mexico this morning with a lead of 18.8 seconds over team-mate Sebastien Ogier.

Petter Solberg was once again fastest through the stage in his similar Citroen DS3 WRC to move into sixth overall, despite reporting losing a few vital seconds with no working handbrake.

“I tried really hard on this stage,” said Loeb, who was second fastest to Solberg through the stage. “Sebastien is very fast so I have to keep pushing.”

Ogier, who was fourth quickest, said: “We had a good drive on this stage but it’s never easy. The previous stage was very twisty so we did not have the traction [running first on the road] but on this stage we were able to keep the speed.”

Factory Ford driver Jari-Matti Latvala reported a slight gearchange problem on his way to the third fastest time, six-tenths of a second slower than Loeb.

There was despair for Evgeny Novikov when the Russian failed to start the stage due a possible oil leak on his Ford Fiesta RS WRC. The 20-year-old had been in a comfortable fifth overall at the time.

Henning Solberg capitalised on Novikov’s misfortune to move into fifth, despite being plagued on the first two stages this morning with a powersteering problem.

Ken Block needed spectators to get his Monster World Rally Team Fiesta back on the road after he spun. “I just pushed too hard,” said the American.

Standings after SS13: