Loeb takes lead from Gronholm

The world champion is now 1.7 seconds ahead of his title rival going into the rally's final day.

Although Gronholm began the day with a 13-second advantage, Loeb reduced that gap by nine seconds as the Ford driver struggled with his tyres in the morning.

When the action resumed in the two stages that comprised the afternoon loop, Loeb immediately trimmed another 0.3 seconds from Gronholm's lead by winning Te Akau North.

But the major breakthrough was in the following Te Akau South test, where Loeb was fastest by 5.4 seconds and duly snatched the rally lead.

Ford's Mikko Hirvonen's third place remains secure, as the Finn runs a minute behind the lead battle.

Behind the top three, fourth-placed Jari-Matti Latvala has pulled away from rally-long rival Chris Atkinson. The Stobart Ford driver was third quickest in SS10, just a second behind the title contenders, and was then fourth fastest in the following stage, putting him 10.5 seconds ahead of the Subaru.

Dani Sordo, Petter Solberg and Urmo Aava continue to occupy the remaining points scoring positions.

After losing several minutes with radiator damage following an error this morning, Henning Solberg is now making progress back up the order.

He has closed to within 9.7 seconds of his Stobart Ford teammate Matthew Wilson and looks set to pass the Briton for ninth once the rally restarts for the final seven stages tomorrow morning.

Pos  Driver     Make        Time
 1.  Loeb       Citroen     2h 47:25.1
 2.  Gronholm   Ford          +    1.7
 3.  Hirvonen   Ford          + 1:12.5
 4.  Latvala    Ford          + 2:02.3
 5.  Atkinson   Subaru        + 2:12.8
 6.  Sordo      Citroen       + 2:49.4
 7.  P Solberg  Subaru        + 3:25.9
 8.  Aava       Mitsubishi    + 7:17.2
 9.  Wilson     Ford          + 8:35.5
10.  H Solberg  Ford          + 8:45.2