CARDIFF, 18 September 2004 — France’s Sebastien Loeb, driving a Citroen, was leading the Rally of Great Britain yesterday after winning two of the day’s six specials in this 12th round of the 16-race world championship to stay on course for the world title.
The world championship leader was 8.4sec ahead of Petter Solberg of Norway, the reigning world champion, and Finland’s Marcus Gronholm was third, almost 16sec behind.
Loeb won the first two specials of the day, benefiting going first as the rainy conditions meant the muddy roads got more and more slippery and therefore worse for those starting later. Loeb, 30 points ahead of Solberg in the title race, insisted he will continue to push hard over the weekend.
“I need some points,” said the Citroen driver. “Solberg is catching me, and it will be difficult to keep him behind me, but we will see. I’m driving like I feel and sure sometimes its too much, but that’s the same for everyone. The best way for me to keep my concentration, I think, is to keep pushing.”
Solberg, who won the day’s last three stages, has been steadily reeling the Frenchman in as he plots a third successive win in Wales.
“It will not be easy, and there will be a good fight until Sunday like usual, but I’m going to do it,” said the Norwegian Subaru driver.
