Loeb tightens grip on Argentina win

The Kronos Citroen driver continued to nurse his ample lead on Sunday morning, driving cautiously and completing today's first two stages with a 32.9 second advantage.

Second-placed Petter Solberg reported possible power steering problems during SS19, but managed to maintain his pace nevertheless.

"I don't even think about it, I just have to work with it," said Solberg. "It's bloody hard work! I did something to the set-up which helps to cope with it."

Loeb's near certain victory would allow his co-driver Daniel Elena to equal Luis Moya's record as the most successful co-driver in World Rally Championship history.

Gigi Galli remains on course for third place, while Manfred Stohl looks set to win the battle of the OMV Peugeots, having grabbed fourth from teammate Henning Solberg by going fastest of all through SS19.

"We've tried our best," said Stohl. "I think it's been a fantastic rally for us, but the luck was not on our side."

Chris Atkinson lost sixth place to Dani Sordo before the start of the leg when he was penalised one minute for 'reckless driving' in the service area. The Australian has already recovered to within 1.1 seconds of Sordo, who has been baffled by his Citroen's handling this morning.

Another inter-team battle is raging for eighth position and the final drivers' point. Luis Perez Companc passed Matthew Wilson at the end of Saturday's leg, but is just three seconds ahead of his young teammate going into the stadium stages, having lost a little ground with a brief off-road moment in today's first stage.

Leading times after SS20:

Pos  Driver         Make           Time
 1.  Loeb           Citroen  4h 02:01.4
 2.  P Solberg      Subaru       + 32.9
 3.  Galli          Peugeot    + 3:19.4
 4.  Stohl          Peugeot    + 3:35.5
 5.  H Solberg      Peugeot    + 4:32.4
 6.  Sordo          Citroen    + 5:32.2
 7.  Atkinson       Subaru     + 5:33.3
 8.  Perez Companc  Ford      + 10:31.4
 9.  Wilson         Ford      + 10:34.4
10.  Gronholm       Ford      + 14:11.9