Puncture jeopardises Loeb’s aspirations in Germany

Sebastien Loeb’s bid for a ninth successive overall win at the Rally of Germany is in real jeopardy after a final-stage puncture handed a big lead to Citroen team-mate Sebastien Ogier heading into the final day of action today.

Loeb, the seven-time world champion, had looked on course to retain the lead heading into today having led Ogier by 3.4 seconds going into stage 14, the last to be run of the day.

However, he suffered a puncture to his front left tyre and Ogier seized the advantage. He now leads Loeb by one minute 11.3 seconds with five stages to come today.

“I think maybe in a straight we saw a few rocks on the road,” said Loeb.

“We were taking it easy but what can we do?”

Ogier, who was under orders to hold station behind Loeb, said: “For sure I can’t be happy when my team-mate had a problem. It’s a good thing there is justice in the sport.”

Mini driver Dani Sordo strengthened his grip on overall third place by finishing second on stage 14, 3.4secs adrift of Ogier. Sordo’s advantage over fourth-placed Mikko Hirvonen (Ford) is now 33.1secs.

“We think we can do a little bit better but not much,” said Sordo.

“We need to push and the car is improving all the time.”

Sordo’s Mini team-mate Kris Meeke is in fifth despite suffering rear suspension damage on the final stage while Dennis Kuipers dropped to 11th place after a rear puncture 10 kilometres from the end of the stage, allowing ex-Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen to take seventh overall.

Loeb leads the drivers championship by 27 points from Hirvonen, with Ogier a further four points behind.