France's Sebastien Ogier takes a 21.1 second lead into the final day of the Rally of Portugal despite compatriot Sebastien Loeb winning four of today's six stages.
Ogier began the day 26.6sec clear of nearest challenger Dani Sordo, with Loeb third and almost 45 seconds off the lead.
But as the younger Frenchman was forced to adopt a conservative strategy for much of the day while first out on the road, Loeb took risks early on to close the gap to 22.9sec after winning two of the first three stages.
He repeated that feat in the afternoon, albeit to less spectacular impact, to lie second at the close of the day as Petter Solberg followed in third, a further 31.1sec back.
Loeb was first to take to the road in the day's opener, stage eight at Almodovar, and swiftly made his move to take eight seconds out of the Citroen junior driver's lead.
Another 11 followed on stage nine at Vascao, moving Loeb into second and within 25 seconds of Ogier. The stage also saw Ford's Jari-Matti Latvala clip a tree and crash out of the rally.
Privateer Solberg, also driving a Citroen, won stage 10 as Ogier held onto a 22.9sec lead at the day's midpoint, the leader describing it as ‘a great morning’.
With the afternoon's stages taking place over the same three routes, the fact that any loose gravel had been swept away made it easier for Ogier to preserve his lead.
And he took advantage by winning back at Almodovar and stretching his lead to 28 seconds, while Sordo claimed second place overall.
But the Spaniard quickly relinquished that position on stage 12 as he sought to keep his tyres intact for the final stage of the day, slipping back to fourth as stage winner Loeb moved second, 23.1sec behind Ogier.
And another win for the Citroen main man in stage 13 at S. Bras de Alpotel shaved a further two seconds off that margin as Ogier was again second fastest.
‘We tried to push all day,’ Ogier said. ‘It was difficult but we didn't lose a lot of time being first on the road.
‘I have to see about my gap to Seb (Loeb) because I know it will be hard again tomorrow.’
Loeb added: ‘I have to push tomorrow but the gap is big and he (Ogier) is going very well.
‘We are only second on the road tomorrow so it won't be easy to make a difference. He was running very well but at the same time saving his tyres nicely. I was too cautious with my tyres and lost too much time.’
