LLORET DE MAR, Spain, 26 October 2003 — Frenchman Sebastien Loeb powered back into contention for the world title here yesterday when he opened up a 20.8sec lead in the Rally of Catalunya, the penultimate round of the 2003 world rally championship.
At the end of yesterday’s second day, the Citroen driver was in command although he had to fight off a stirring challenge from second-placed Markko Martin in a Ford Focus.
The Estonian driver won three of the day’s eight stages to keep up a slim hope of snatching victory today.
Spain’s Carlos Sainz, who started this race as the world championship leader, was down in fourth spot yesterday more than 65sec off the pace while long-time series leader Richard Burns of England, in a Peugeot, was in sixth spot.
Burns, the 2001 champion, started this race in joint second place with Petter Solberg in a Subaru — both drivers three points behind Sainz.
Solberg, who won in Corsica last week, was in tenth spot yesterday and out of contention for points.
France’s Gilles Panizzi, in a Peugoet, was third 36.7sec behind Loeb and will be targeting Martin for second place today.
