World Championship leader Sebastien Loeb hit the front of the Rally Sardinia at the end of the first leg after spending much of the day running down the order.

World champion Sebastien Loeb handed the title-race lead to rival Marcus Gronholm as the Citroen driver crashed twice during the second day of Rally Norway.

World champion Sebastien Loeb was left cursing a 10-second penalty which allowed Marcus Gronholm to take a slender lead into the second day of the Swedish Rally.

Harri Rovanpera crashed out of the lead of Rally Finland today to give Marcus Gronholm a clear run in his bid for a fourth win on home ground.

World championship leader Sebastien Loeb overcame a jittery morning to assert his authority on the Rally of Turkey.

Sebastien Loeb bounced back from a turbulent morning to retake the lead in the Rally of Turkey after Marcus Gronholm floundered under pressure.

Marcus Gronholm remains on course to win for the first time this season after enjoying a trouble-free second day on the Cyprus Rally.

Marcus Gronholm and Markko Martin closed the gap on overall leader Petter Solberg when finishing first and second on Stage 15 of the Rally New Zealand this morning.

Marcus Gronholm admitted that the moment when he tipped his Peugeot on its side during the second leg of the Rally of New Zealand was enough to get him to back off the throttle pedal for the remainder of the race.

FINLAND’S Marcus Gronholm is already looking a strong contender for a third Swedish Rally victory in four years, having mastered the icy conditions with almost nonchalant ease.

Peugeot added the 2002 World Rally Championship to the titles it won in 2000 and 2001 as soon as Ford’s Markko Martin threw his car off the road on stage 14 of the Rally of New Zealand today.

Colin McRae set the fastest time on today’s opening stage but it only scratched the surface of his deficit to Swedish Rally leader Marcus Gronholm.