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Loeb feared he would lose lead

Rally Argentina leader Sebastien Loeb has revealed that he thought his advantage was in jeopardy during the final stage of leg one

The world champion was 6.6 seconds slower than stage winner Manfred Stohl through La Cumbre 1.

"I really thought for a moment that I was going to lose my lead," Loeb admitted.

"The first few kilometres were really sandy, there was no grip and I made a series of mistakes. I hit the side of the road about three times and I nearly spun twice.

"I really had to calm things down then. It's on stretches of road like that where you realise how much work the active differentials used to do..."

SS10 pacesetters Stohl and Gigi Galli are both using 2005 specification Peugeot 307s, which are still fitted with the active equipment.

Loeb moved into the lead of the rally when Marcus Gronholm retired in SS8. He currently has a 19.8 second gap back to the chasing Petter Solberg.

"Our plan is still to attack," said Loeb. "Marcus is no longer in the running, but there's always Petter."

 

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