WITH five out of six fastest stage times, Sebastien Loeb (Citroen DS3) extended his overall lead in the Monte Carlo Rally to a minute and 37.2 seconds as the battle for second between Dani Sordo (MINI WRC) and Petter Solberg (Fiesta WRC) hotted up.

Setting the pace on the first of today’s eight stages, Cavan’s, Patrick Elliott (Subaru WRC), who was co-driven by Paul Goodman, won the Circuit of Munster Rally, the fifth round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.