Reigning World Champion Sébastien Loeb has taken the lead in Jordan Rally, round three of the FIA World Rally Championship.

The Frenchman started the day in third but a beneficial road position has enabled him to overhaul Jari-Matti Latvala, who now overnights in third position. Second is held by Citroën Junior driver Sébastien Ogier.

Today’s route took in two identical loops of three stages covering 138.28 competitive kilometres to the west of the capital city of Amman. It also included one of the longest stages in the Championship, the 41.45 kilometre ‘Jordan River’.

Starting from a position of strength, Loeb made his mark by winning the opening stage and, with another stage victory to his credit, managed to climb to second and within 4.7 seconds of Latvala by the mid-day service.

In the first of the repeated stages, another fastest time put the rivals in joint first position but by the end of the day Loeb had pulled out a 27.7 second advantage over the Finn. The Frenchman was happy to remain first on the road for tomorrow’s final day of competition, while Latvala dropped from second to third in the final stage to aid his assault.

Petter Solberg has maintained fourth position, but the Norwegian has lost time in both runs through the long Jordan River stage and is now 43.2 seconds adrift of the lead. Dani Sordo has climbed one position, into fifth, following the retirement of Mikko Hirvonen.

In the opening stage this morning, the Finn hit a bank, nearly rolling before the car landed on the front left wheel and broke the suspension. He is likely to re-start the final day of the rally however. Former F1 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen spun in the last stage but has been happy with his performance. He overnights in eighth.  Henning Solberg has dropped from seventh to ninth after a puncture.

Jordan Rally - Results after Day 2