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Rankings: Loeb set to profit as rivals slip up in Monte Carlo

Sebastien Loeb made a fitting start to his bid for a ninth World Rally crown by dominating from the front on the second day of Monte Carlo

The Frenchman had trailed Ford's Jari-Matti Latvala after the second stage of the event, only for the Finn to crash out of the rally on the final stage of day one - ending the prospect of a grandstand fight between the pair.

Rather than facing a deficit, Loeb now leads Mini's Dani Sordo by over 1m30s - good news for both his championship hopes and his position in the Castrol EDGE Rankings, where he was in danger of being overhauled as the top ranked rally driver for the very first time heading into Monte Carlo.

Thae prospect of Loeb being overhauled comes as a result of three retirements in the final four rallies of 2011, dropping him to an all-time low of ninth in the Rankings - and within reach of Sebastien Ogier (12), Mikko Hirvonen (13) and Jari-Matti Latvala (17).

The damage of Latvala's early demise is compounded in the Rankings by the fact he finished third in last year's Rally Sweden, the round to be dropped under the rollover system - meaning he faces a significant points fall.

There are no such problems for Loeb however; sixth in Sweden last year, a win would therefore represent a significant points gain, helping to protect his status as the highest-ranked rally driver in the world.

With Ogier also out - after a fantastic run in his Super-2000 specification Skoda Fabia - only Hirvonen stands as a credible threat to Loeb's position.

The Finn switched from Ford to Citroen for the start of 2012, but trails his new stable-mate by over three minutes at the close of day two as he acclimatises to his new machinery.

Having won in Sweden, Hirvonen therefore faces a potential slide down the Rankings just as Loeb, his team-mate and long-term rival, looks likely to improve.

Behind them, Ford's Petter Solberg (66) stands to make significant gains if he can preserve his current spot in third, while Mini's Sordo could make massive inroads in to the Rankings top 100 after ending day two in second position.

To see the full Rankings, visit www.castroldriverrankings.com.

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