The French rally driver Sebastien Loeb, who claimed his ninth successive world drivers title a fortnight ago, has the lead after the first 2 stages of the Rally of Italy in Sardinia.
Loeb, in a Citroen, posted the fastest time in the second stage with Ford's Finnish driver Jari-Mati Latvala winning the morning opener but then losing time with a puncture.
Loeb leads by one second from his Finnish teammate, Mikko Hirvonen.
