Gronholm heads for victory as Loeb rocks and roll

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2006

JYVASKYLA, Finlande (AFP) — Marcus Gronholm opened up a massive 67-second lead to put himself in sight of his sixth Rally of Finland win in the last seven years.

The Finn took a 12-sec lead over double world champion, and current series leader Sebastien Loeb, into Saturday's second day of action but any threat the Frenchman could pose was quickly destroyed when his Citroen suffered a puncture after hitting a rock.

It cost him a vital 30 seconds as the puncture was repaired.

The accident happened on the 12th stage, the third of the day, and it wrecked any chance Loeb would have had of winning the race and extending his 33-point lead over Gronholm in the title race.

Gronholm's Ford Focus teammate Mikko Hirvonen is third going into Sunday's final day...