Rock sends Sebastien Loeb rolling out in Monte Carlo

Monaco: Sebastien Loeb saw his hopes of an eighth Monte Carlo Rally title dented Friday when his Citroen suffered a broken rear suspension following a collision with a rock on the icy surface.

Nine-time world champion Loeb, who had led overnight as well as at the midway stage on Friday, was understood to have lost around six minutes after the accident on the day`s final run.

That allowed two-time defending world champion Sebastien Ogier to overturn a 41sec deficit to snatch the overnight lead.

The Volkswagen driver now has a 1min 45.4sec advantage over teammate Jari-Matti Latvala with another Volkswagen pilot Andreas Mikkelsen in third spot.

Loeb is racing in the world championship for the first time in 15 months and his run for Citroen in Monte Carlo is his only scheduled appearance of the 2015 season.

The 40-year-old triumphed in the wintry conditions of the Principality seven times between 2003 and 2013.