Latvala edges in front at Rallye de France

Jari-Matti Latvala holds a slender lead at Rallye de France following a thrilling day that ended with four drivers covered by five seconds heading into the final day.

Latvala snatched the lead through the final stage to bring his Volkswagen Polo R back to Strasbourg in front of Citroen’s Dani Sordo. The Spaniard lies just 1.1sec clear of Sebastien Ogier (VW), with Sebastien Loeb (Citroen) still chasing victory in his final rally a further 3.5sec adrift.

Thierry Neuville was the leader through to just after lunchtime when his 13.1sec advantage disappeared when he slid wide in his Ford Fiesta RS and punctured his rear left tyre. He lost nearly 90sec and dropped out of contention to fifth.

It left Sordo in front, but an increasingly confident Latvala gradually reeled in the Citroen DS3 after a day characterised by constantly changing conditions. Drivers encountered fog, rain, and mud this morning, before temporarily drier roads this afternoon offered consistency until the wet weather returned.

Despite not winning a single stage in the event, it is Latvala who will take the lead into the final leg.

“It’s incredible the kind of fight we’re having,” said Latvala.

“It’s one of the greatest rallies I have been involved in. I was perhaps too cautious on a couple of stages but the main thing is I made no mistakes. I’ve dug out some little things that have been missing from my driving.”

After a lacklustre opening day, Ogier was right back on form. He won five of the seven tests in his Polo R to propel himself into the thick of the fight.

Loeb lost a few seconds when his DS3 developed understeer this afternoon but earlier claimed his 900th career stage win.

Tomorrow’s final leg offers six more tests north of Strasbourg covering 56.58km.

VIDEO: Morning stages

VIDEO: Afternoon stages

POSITIONS AFTER SS14 – Rallye de France – Alsace