Gronholm looks commanding

FORD’S Marcus Gronholm was in commanding form to build an 11.1-second lead over title rival Sebastien Loeb at the Swedish Rally.

The Finn claimed three of yesterday’s seven stages as he goes looking for his fifth win at the snow-ridden event overall.

World Rally champion Loeb had to put in a fine comeback drive in his Citroen, after a stall at the start line on last night’s opening stage meant he started the day 21st.

“It’s okay, it was a good day,” Gronholm said.

“Some stages were not so good, like stage seven when it was really slippery at the end, but some were good.

“I don’t know if road position will help tomorrow, to be honest, but we will run 15th on the road — so we won’t be clearing snow for anybody.”

Frenchman Loeb, who won two stages despite an electrical gremlin, was philosophical but upbeat after a testing day.

“I have tried hard all day. But in these conditions it was really difficult being first on the road — so to be this close to Marcus is good,” he said.

Yesterday morning’s leader Petter Solberg lies third, 22.6secs off the pace, after being passed by rally’s big two in his Subaru — Gronholm on stage five and Loeb leapfrogging him on stage six.

The Norwegian lost the tungsten-tipped studs on his snow tyres — which has left him only 5.3secs ahead of his older brother Henning in his Ford.

After suffering a power-steering problem this morning, Finland’s Mikko Hirvonen — another Ford star — climbed to fifth.

Overnight leader Toni Gardemeister could not maintain his pace, and a spin in his Mitsubishi on stage two saw him slip to sixth.

Trailing the Finn in the final points positions are the Citroen duo of top-placed Swede Daniel Carlsson and Austria’s Manfred Stohl.