Loeb takes control of Cyprus race

[Maserati]

NICOSIA, Cyprus -- World champion Sebastien Loeb has taken the lead from Marcus Gronholm in the second leg of the Rally of Cyprus on Saturday.

Frenchman Loeb holds a 21.8-second lead over Gronholm at the end of day two with Gronholm's Ford team-mate Mikko Hirvonen third -- four minutes six seconds behind.

Gronholm, world champion in 2002, led after the first leg on Friday and was still 8.5 seconds ahead of Loeb at midday on Saturday. Loeb took over after his Finnish rival had a spin on the 14th stage.

Loeb has a third world title within his reach this weekend but the Citroen driver needs to win, with Gronholm finishing sixth or lower.

The Cyprus Rally is known for its treacherous gravel tracks, with the first driver on the road acting as a sweeper for the vehicles which follow.

"The roads seem looser than in previous years after regrading," Gronholm said, as a number of drivers struggled.

Britain's Ken Dobson and Brian Spademan were taken to hospital with minor injuries after Dobson's Mitsubishi left the road in the ninth stage and careered down a drop.

Spaniard Dani Sordo, in a Citroen Xsara, rolled in one of the morning stages but suffered only a small time loss.

Sweltering heat adds to drivers' discomfort. Under International Automobile Federation (FIA) rules, drivers must wear flame-resistant underwear stretching from their waist to their ankles.

Stewards performed an underwear check midway through the second leg to ensure drivers were complying with safety standards.

[Plex]

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