Sebastien Loeb maintained his 'no-risk' approach on the second day of the Wales Rally GB in order to ensure he does nothing to jeopardise taking his fourth drivers' crown.
The Frenchman continued to pace himself and while he slipped further behind the top two, he is comfortably in third and that will be more than enough to give him the 2007 drivers' title.
Speaking in the final service of the day though, the
Citroen man conceded that it was frustrating not to be able to really push, especially as the stages are so good.
"It effectively rained for most of the day but visibility was far better than yesterday,” he noted. “The stages themselves were different, too.
“There were more long, fast corners which call for a more fluid style as you flow from turn to turn.
"I've always enjoyed this sort of road here in previous years but it was quite frustrating this time round. However, if we end up taking the title, that will soon be forgotten.
“We have stuck to our game-plan so far and we are currently third with a handy lead over our closest chasers and just one day to go!"
Citroen boss, Guy Frequelin meanwhile was pretty happy with how the day worked out.
“Today there have been no problems and it has been exactly as we expected. This rally is unique in that there are some very tough surface changes. It has been difficult for Sebastien to not go flat out as that is what he is used to – at the moment he is driving at maybe 80 per cent. It is more important for him to win the title though than the rally and that is what he and the whole of the team are focusing on,” he concluded.
