Loeb suffers puncture, Sordo leads
As predicted, the second day of this year's Acropolis Rally has claimed victims already, as the scorching temperatures allied to the roughest roads of the year, have caused problems throughout the leaderboard on the seventh round of the World Rally Championship
Rally leader Sebastien Loeb dropped behind his Citroen teammate Dani Sordo on the second stage of the day, the world champion suffering from a puncture and losing 30 seconds to his fellow C4 WRC driver.
Loeb remains in second, but is now 19 seconds behind Sordo.
Ford's challenge has also faltered. After a stunning run through the day's opener, the longest stage of the rally (Aghii Theodori 19.98 miles), Hirvonen's Focus RS WRC07 has hit right-rear suspension problems and lost a further half a minute.
One of the most significant retirements came from the Subaru World Rally Team, as Chris Atkinson' retired with what's thought to be an electrical fault aboard the all-new car. Atkinson's Impreza WRC08 failed to start ahead of the day's second test, having been running seventh.
Private Citroen drivers Urmo Aava and Conrad Rautenbach both suffered in stage eight. Aava's C4 was hampered by a puncture, while reigning FIA African Rally Champion Rautenbach damaged the radiator on the sister car. They lost two and four minutes respectively.
Subaru privateer Mads Ostberg, who has rejoined under Superally rules this morning, was another to drop down the order as he lost five minutes in the day's opening test.
Behind Sordo and Loeb, Petter Solberg remains third for Subaru, with Ford's Jari-Matti Latvala now back up to fourth ahead of Stobart Ford's Henning Solberg.
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