PORTO CERVO, Sardinia, 2 October 2004 — World champion Petter Solberg has strengthened his lead after winning the final stage in leg one of the Rally of Italy yesterday.
Championship leader Sebastien Loeb is improving steadily in third.
The Norwegian topped the timesheets in three of the day’s six stages to open up a lead of more than half a minute over former world champion Marcus Gronholm in the Peugeot going into day two of the three-day rally.
Finn Gronholm had won stages four and five on the northern coastal roads of the Italian island to push himself into contention while Loeb, who was timed second in the sixth stage, is 34.8 seconds behind Solberg in third.
Solberg’s Subaru was 16.9 seconds ahead of Markko Martin’s Ford after the opening stage of the Sardinian event.
“I’m trying hard and can get into a good driving rhythm quite quickly,” Solberg told wrc.com.”
The stages are quite rough in places, very difficult and technical.”
Solberg, who suffered a puncture in the opening run, also won the second stage before Loeb hit back by being fastest in stage three after a difficult start in his Citroen.
Struggling with the disadvantage of going out first on the gravel road, the Frenchman was way back in ninth after the opening stage but worked his way back towards the leaders.
Suburu’s Mikko Hirvonen retired with a gearbox problem.
Loeb has 92 points in the drivers’ championship with four rallies left and could wrap up a first world title if he wins in Sardinia and Solberg, who has 64 points, slips up.
