 Loeb has a 5.5 second lead over Gronholm |
Citroen's Sebastien Loeb moved into the lead after the second day of the Rally of Germany on Saturday. The Frenchman overtook Peugeot team-mates Marcus Gronholm and Richard Burns, both of whom had previously led the race.
World champion Gronholm is second, 5.5s behind Loeb, with Markko Martin third and Britain's Colin McRae third.
Martin, briefly lead on Friday before dropping back with gearbox trouble, started the day 10th but won five of the day's eight stages move up the field.
Loeb only won one stage on the day, the 12th, while Gronholm claimed two stages.
"Sure it's better to be first than to be second," Loeb said.
"But if the conditions tomorrow are like today's, five seconds is nothing."
Burns, the overnight leader, struggled with his choice of tyres on a rainy day with a mixture of wet and dry asphalt and now trails Loeb by almost 49 seconds in fifth place.
Standings (after day two)
1. Sebastien Loeb (FRA) Citroen Xsara 2hr 46min 20.8sec
2. Marcus Gronholm (FIN) Peugeot 206 at 5.5
3. Markko Martin (EST) Ford Focus RS03 34.8
4. Colin McRae (GBR) Citroen Xsara 45.3
5. Richard Burns (GBR) Peugeot 206 48.8
6. Carlos Sainz (SPA) Citroen Xsara 1:54.6
7. Francois Duval (BEL) Ford Focus RS03 1:59.4
8. Gilles Panizzi (FRA) Peugeot 206 2:19.2
9. Cedric Robert (FRA) Peugeot 206 2:51.4
10. Petter Solberg (NOR) Subaru Impreza 2:54.2
MMIX
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