Factory Ford driver Jari-Matti Latvala has moved to within 5.0s of the lead of Neste Oil Rally Finland, as Sebastien Ogier slashes Citroen team-mate Sebastien Loeb’s overall advantage to 0.7s.
“It’s another good stage and a bit more dry but it’s difficult to use the advantage because there is only a small line from Seb,” said Ogier.
Loeb added: “I am satisfied with my driving but I am losing time because of the conditions.”
Mikko Hirvonen has continued Ford’s dominance of the second day of the world championship qualifier by setting the fastest time in his Fiesta.
Jari Ketomaa has rolled his privateer Fiesta and is understood to have retired.
Dani Sordo and Petter Solberg both reported losing time passing Ketomaa’s stricken machine. Ketomaa and co-driver Mika Stenberg are both uninjured.
Standings after SS8:
| Pos. | Driver | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | S. LOEB / D. ELENA | Citroën DS3 WRC | 1h07m33.6s |
| 02 | S. OGIER / J. INGRASSIA | Citroën DS3 WRC | +0.7s |
| 03 | J. LATVALA / M. ANTTILA | Ford Fiesta RS WRC | +5.0s |
| 04 | P. SOLBERG / C. PATTERSSON | Citroën DS3 WRC | +29.7s |
| 05 | M. ØSTBERG / J. ANDERSSON | Ford Fiesta RS WRC | +55.7s |
| 06 | D. SORDO / C. DEL BARRIO | MINI WRC | +1m16.7s |
| 07 | J. HANNINEN / M. MARKKULA | Skoda Fabia S2000 | +1m22.5s |
| 08 | K. MEEKE / P. NAGLE | MINI WRC | +1m38.2s |
| 09 | M. HIRVONEN / J. LEHTINEN | Ford Fiesta RS WRC | +1m39.0s |
| 10 | H. SOLBERG / I. MINOR | Ford Fiesta RS WRC | +1m53.2s |
| 11 | M. WILSON / S. MARTIN | Ford Fiesta RS WRC | +1m54.2s |
| 12 | K. RAIKKONEN / K. LINDSTRÖM | Citroën DS3 WRC | +2m00.0s |
| 13 | M. PROKOP / J. TOMÁNEK | FORD Fiesta S2000 | +2m16.6s |
| 14 | D. KUIPERS / F. MICLOTTE | Ford Fiesta RS WRC | +2m46.1s |
| 15 | A. MIKKELSEN / O. FLOENE | SKODA Fabia S2000 | +3m09.0s |