Trier, July 27: Last year's winner Sebastien Loeb took the lead from Finland's Marcus Gronholm on the second day of the World Rally Championship German round. Frenchman Loeb, in a Citroen, was a slim 5.5 seconds ahead of Gronholm in his Peugeot on Saturday (July 26) before the three-day event's last six timed stages on Sunday. Ford driver Markko Martin of Estonia, who briefly enjoyed the lead on Friday before dropping back with gearbox trouble, staged a remarkable comeback with fastest times for five of the day's nine runs. Martin, who ended the first day in 10th position, moved up to third, 34.8 seconds off the pace and one spot above Briton Colin McRae, in a Citroen. Loeb took the overall lead after the 13th stage in which he finished second behind Martin. Gronholm was fifth on that stage, over eight seconds behind Martin.


Gronholm won the 14th stage but Loeb was just 0.3 seconds behind him. In the 15th stage Loeb was third while Gronholm finished seventh, dropping to over seven seconds behind Loeb.


Both did poorly on the final stage of the day which was won by Roman Kresta of the Czech Republic: Gronholm was seventh and Loeb 10th.


McRae's compatriot, Richard Burns, the overnight leader, struggled with his choice of tyres on a rainy day with a mixture of wet and dry asphalt and seriously undermined his chances of winning his first rally of the year.


The world championship leader ended the day in fifth place, 48.8 seconds behind the leader and with virtually no chance of winning.


Sunday's timed stages are slightly less rugged with flowing sprints on asphalt and twisty drives through the vineyards of the Mosel Valley on the agenda.


Leading positions in the three-day Rally of Germany after the second day on Saturday: 1. Sebastien Loeb (France) Citroen two hours 46 minutes 20.8 seconds 2. Marcus Gronholm (Finland) Peugeot 5.5 seconds behind 3. Markko Martin (Estonia) Ford 34.8 4. Colin McRae (Britain) Citroen 45.3 5. Richard Burns (Britain) Peugeot 48.8 6. Carlos Sainz (Spain) Citroen 1:54.6 7. Francois Duval (Belgium) Ford 1:59.4 8. Gilles Panizzi (France) Peugeot 2:19.2 9. Cedric Robert (France) Peugeot 2:51.4 10. Petter Solberg (Norway) Subaru 2:54.2


Bureau Report