Loeb on top at second day of Italy Rally

World champion Sebastien Loeb continued his bid to increase his points lead by dominating the second day of the Italy Rally.

The Citroen driver won four of the six stages on the second day around Sardegna as title rival Marcus Gronholm could only take two stage wins in the Ford.

Loeb won the first three stages of the day and also took the fifth as Gronholm hit back to take four and six.

But with Spaniard Loeb leading Finland's Gronholm by three points in the overall standings, the world champion needs to win in Italy to put some ground between himself and his main title rival.

Loeb holds a lead of 40 seconds in the Italian rally over Gronholm, so needs to be careful on the final day if he is to prevent his rival taking the win from him.

Gronholm's team-mate Mikko Hirvonen lies third, with Loeb's fellow Citroen driver Dani Sordo in fourth.

Henning Solberg (Stobart VK Ford) and Peter Solberg (Subaru) lie fifth and sixth, with the Mitsubishi of Toni Gardemeister in seventh.