BP Ford driver Mikko Hirvonen has survived a dramatic second day on the Acropolis Rally of Greece to retain his lead and extend his advantage to one minute 40.1 seconds. Second position is now held by reigning FIA Junior World Rally Champion Sébastien Ogier with Jari-Matti Latvala climbing from 11th to third after those around him have hit trouble or been forced into retirement.

Today’s route took the crews over two loops of three stages covering 135.36 competitive kilometres. The drama started early with World Champion Sébastien Loeb crashing in the first stage of the day, the Frenchman rolling his C4 World Rally Car into instant retirement. Both he and co-driver Daniel Elena were unhurt. Two stages later his team-mate Dani Sordo was also forced out when he broke the suspension and at the same place, Henning Solberg retired with the same problem having hit a rock.

After this, Petter Solberg moved up into second position, but the Norwegian then suffered suspension problems in the penultimate stage. Repairs between the end of the stage and the start of the final stage enabled Solberg to limp through but he lost eight minutes and has dropped out of the top 10. As a consequence, Ogier moved up the order into second and Jari-Matti Latvala – who lost time off the road yesterday – has climbed into the final provisional podium position.

Three fastest stage times have seen Evgeny Novikov move from 12th to fourth but he is just 12.1 seconds ahead of fifth-placed team-mate Conrad Rautenbach. Federico Villagra and Khalid Al Qassimi are sixth and seventh respectively. Nasser Al-Attiyah, in a Group N Subaru, is eighth. Norway’s Mads Östberg retired from fourth with suspension damage this afternoon.

The final day of competition on Sunday takes in another five stages and 95.26 competitive kilometres.

Acropolis Rally of Greece - Results after Day 2

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