Loeb goes into the rally second in the championship

Citroen driver Sebastien Loeb opened up a 37-second lead on the field after the opening day of the Rally of Sardinia.

World Rally championship leader Mikko Hirvonen, who won the most recent event in Jordan, lies in fourth place nearly one minute behind the leader.

Loeb won two stages and could have had more had he not eased off to avoid the punctures which affected other drivers.

Jari-Matti Latvala won the first stage before a blow-out and Italy's Gigi Galli was another victim of the gravel.

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Hirvonen admitted he had produced a disappointing performance and warned fans he was not sure he could improve.

"I don't know why but I can't go any faster," he said.

"I'm pushing hard, the car and the set-up feels good but for some reason the times just aren't there.

"Second place is the minimum I need to get out of this rally so I'm going to go absolutely flat out."

Rally of Sardinia, standings after day one:

1 S Loeb (Fr) Citroen 1hr 31min 27.600 secs
2 D Sordo (Sp) Citroen @ 00:35.700 secs
3 P Solberg (Nor) Subaru @ 00:53.800
4 M Hirvonen (Fin) Ford @ 00:58.900
5 C Atkinson (Aus) Subaru @ 1:09.000
6 G Galli (Ita) Ford @ 1:12.300
7 J_M Latvala (Fin) Ford @ 1:31.100
8 H Solberg (Nor) Ford @ 1:52.500
9 U Aava (Est) Citroen @ 2:19.800
10 T Gardemeister (Fin) Suzuki @ 2:22.900