 Loeb is currently third in the overall standings |
World champion Sebastien Loeb took full advantage of Petter Solberg's bad luck to build up a commanding lead after day one of the Rally of Mexico. Norwegian Solberg was leading when an engine problem caused his Subaru to leak oil and ended his race.
That allowed Frenchman Loeb to put his foot down and establish a 27-second lead over the field.
Championship leader Marcus Gronholm is down in fifth after struggling on the dusty surfaces in the morning stages.
The Ford driver said he then made a bad tyre choice in the afternoon session.
"I'm very low in the classification so I have to at least climb up somewhere, but I can't win this rally," he said.
Solberg's Australian team-mate Chris Atkinson moved up to second place after the Norwegian's retirement from the race.
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