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CAGLIARI, Italy: Sebastien Loeb remained in the lead of the rally of Italy after day two on Saturday but his advantage in Sardinia has been cut by new second-placed driver Mikko Hirvonen.
Frenchman Loeb, bidding for a eighth straight world title, holds a 28.3 second lead in his Citroen over Ford's Hirvonen after Friday's runner-up Petter Solberg dropped back to fourth.
Loeb lost time after being saddled with cleaning the road of loose surface gravel but he was still pleased.
"It has been very difficult and I'm very happy with the times I have done," he told World Rally Championship during a service halt in Olbia.
"It was really important to take some risks and push very, very hard." Ford's Jari-Matti Latvala was quickest almost all day on Saturday as he battled back from a retirement in stage two on Friday.
Mini suffered another retirement on their return to the sport with Kris Meeke's car breaking down for the second straight day but team mate Dani Sordo still lies sixth overall.
The rally of Italy is the fifth race of the 13-event season.
Frenchman Loeb, bidding for a eighth straight world title, holds a 28.3 second lead in his Citroen over Ford's Hirvonen after Friday's runner-up Petter Solberg dropped back to fourth.
Loeb lost time after being saddled with cleaning the road of loose surface gravel but he was still pleased.
"It has been very difficult and I'm very happy with the times I have done," he told World Rally Championship during a service halt in Olbia.
"It was really important to take some risks and push very, very hard." Ford's Jari-Matti Latvala was quickest almost all day on Saturday as he battled back from a retirement in stage two on Friday.
Mini suffered another retirement on their return to the sport with Kris Meeke's car breaking down for the second straight day but team mate Dani Sordo still lies sixth overall.
The rally of Italy is the fifth race of the 13-event season.
