Loeb sees chance as Gronholm goes out

Sebastien Loeb’s prospects of capturing a fourth consecutive world championship improved considerably after leader Marcus Gronholm was forced out of Rally Japan during a dramatic first day in Obihiro.

Defending champion Loeb entered the event four points behind his rival but now has a golden opportunity to erase that deficit after the Finn retired at the end of stage four while leading the race when he left the road and damaged his car’s roll cage on a tree stump.