SS6: Ogier closes on leader Loeb

Hirvonen takes third stage win

Sebastien Ogier has cut Sebastien Loeb’s overall lead of Neste Oil Rally Finland to 2.8s at the completion of Friday morning’s opening trio of stages.

Loeb reported dropping time forging a line through the loose surface gravel on the stage, which he completed with the fourth fastest time. He said: “There was a lot of [loose] gravel in this one and we have no chance to make any difference. We are pushing very hard and I am on the limit everywhere. We just have to push.”

Ogier said: “We tried to push as much as we can but it’s not easy with some tricky places. We had to change the rhythm in some places. When you are faster than Sebastien it’s always good because it’s hard to beat him.”

Third-placed Jari-Matti Latvala was a mere 0.2s slower than Ogier in his works Fiesta. He said: “I pushed really hard and this was a better stage. My driving is getting in a better direction.”

Dani Sordo suffered a brief spin in his MINI and is now just 8.0s ahead of team-mate Kris Meeke.

Mads Ostberg also suffered a spin as a result of a wrong pace note. He lost more than 10 seconds as he struggled to select reverse gear. Nevertheless he maintains his sixth position in his M-Sport Stobart Fiesta, however his margin over seventh-placed Sordo is now down to 4.6s.

Mikko Hirvonen made it three stage wins in succession despite reporting the rear of his Fiesta sliding too much towards the end of the run.