Loeb Leads in Catalunya

The Rally of Catlunya got underway in cool but bright conditions on Friday with Ford's Marcus Gronholm setting the fastest time on the opening 25km stage in the hills north east of Salou. The Finn beat championship leader Sebastien Loeb by six seconds with Ford's Mikko Hirvonen confirming the pace of the Focus RS in third.

Spain's Daniel Sordo was fourth fastest in his 2005-spec Xsara WRC, which has the benefit of using active differentials, with Citroen's Xavier Pons fifth in the 2006 WRC. Subaru struggled with Petter Solberg, Chris Atkinson and Stephane Sarrazin all over twenty seconds off the pace as their Pirelli tyres failed to given the performance required... RESULT & COMMENTS

Marcus Gronholm has confirmed his pace on the opening stage by edging out Sebastien Loeb on stage two. The Finn beat the champion by 1.2 seconds, stretching his lead out to 7.3 seconds, with Daniel Sordo an impressive third quickest (+3.0). Mikko Hirvonen was fourth on the timesheets (+8.5), consolidating his third place overall, with Subaru's Petter Solberg fifth...RESULT & COMMENTS

German Joerg Bastuck was injured in the stage - the co-driver was changing a wheel after car no 54 went off track when car no 53 hit him. He has been airlifted to hospital in serious condition...

Team Ford's Marcus Gronholm has extended his lead on Sebastien Loeb by 3.8 seconds to take his lead to 11.1 seconds. Home favourite Dani Sordo has again come in with third place (+5.5) followed by Gronholm's team-mate Mikko Hirvonen (+6.4). Hirvonen's overall third place is just 0.3 seconds faster than Sordo after Stage 3...RESULT & COMMENTS

Sebastien Loeb has posted the fastest time in Stage 4, 1.8 seconds ahead of Marcus Gronholm. Spaniard Dani Sordo came in third - 2.6 seconds behind - to take third place overall from Mikko Hirvonen, now fourth (also fourth fastest in the stage)...RESULT & COMMENTS

World Rally Championship officials regrettably announced the passing of car number 54's co-driver Joerg Bastuck after injuries sustained in Stage 2 of the Rally of Catalunya.

Driver and compatriot Nicolai Burkart was uninjured.

Sebastien Loeb has taken the lead from Marcus Gronholm after he suffered turbo-boost failure Stage 5. The Finn finished 1:25.9 seconds behind the Frenchman in fifteenth place and now falls back to fifth place overall.

Team-mate Mikko Hirvonen also suffered turbo problems but also had to deal with power losses as dropped through the ranks; finally finishing over three minutes behind...RESULT & COMMENTS

Sebastien Loeb finished Leg 1 of the Rally of Catalunya, leading a charge of Xsara Citroens to the provisional podium: Spaniard Dani Sordo ended the day 27.3 seconds behind the defending world champion, followed by Xavier Pons 1:01.5 off the pace.

Petter Solberg hung onto the leaders; ending the onslaught of Citroen to take fourth place - 1:25.6 minutes behind overall.

The turbo and electrical problems of Ford pair Marcus Gronholm and Mikko Hirvonen continued to plague; the pair pushed out of the top twenty at the day's conclusion after having occupied first and third place for most of the day.

Petter Solberg hung onto the leaders; ending the onslaught of Citroen to take fourth place - 1:25.6 minutes behind overall.

Yet another Frenchman - Alex Bengue (Peugeot) followed in fifth position followed by Jan Kopecky (Czech Team Skoda) and then the Imprezas of Stephane Sarrazin and Chris Atkinson in seventh and eighth; a bad day for the Subarus...RESULT & COMMENTS