SS11: Latvala Marches On

Chris Atkinson has responded to Matthew Wilson's charge with a surge of his own.The Australian finished the stage seventh, ahead of Wilson, to extend his lead out to 1.9 seconds.The Subaru driver does not have a comfortable lead with two competitive stages left to go on the day, but he has proven that he will not let the young Wilson through without a fight.

Jari-Matti Latvala continues to be the best of the rest on the day with another stage win to his credit. The Stobart Ford driver finished 0.9 seconds ahead of BP-Ford's Marcus Gronholm, and has used the wins over the morning and afternoon to take over a minute back on the leaders, but because of his 10- minute penalty at the end of yesterday, though, he is still far from the top ten overall. Mikko Hirvonen was third on the stage a further 1.9 seconds behind Gronholm.

Henning Solberg quickened his pace over the stages to take fourth at the end of SS11, 2.5 seconds behind Hirvonen. Dani Sordo was fifth on the stage, an additional 0.6 seconds back. Sixth went to Petter Solberg, 0.6 seconds behind Sordo, 6.5 seconds behind Latvala's pace. Atkinson was seventh, just one second ahead of Subaru team-mate Xevi Pons.