World champion Sebastien Loeb tightened his grip on the German Rally by extending his lead to more than half a minute on Saturday.

The Citroen driver, chasing his seventh world title in a row, was 35,7 seconds ahead of team mate Dani Sordo of Spain and two minutes 7,1 seconds in front of fellow Frenchman Sebastien Ogier.

Loeb, 36, who is top of the championship standings, went into the second day with a lead of 9,5 seconds but eased away after winning the first stage.

Finn Jari-Matti Latvala, third at the start of the day, dropped to fourth when he spun off the road during the longest stage of the world championship schedule, the 48-km Panzerplatte which is held on a former military training ground.

Ford team leader Mikko Hirvonen, fifth on Friday, was forced to retire on stage 13 with a transmission problem.

Sordo then lost ground on the final stage, finishing more than 12 seconds behind Loeb.

The race ends on Sunday with a special stage dubbed “Circus Maximus” in Trier, Germany’s oldest city.