Citroen's Sebastien Loeb closed in on a record fifth straight world title by taking a firm grip on third place in the Japan Rally on Saturday. The Frenchman, who will win his fifth crown with a podium finish on Sunday, ended the second leg over a minute and a half clear of Subaru's Chris Atkinson in fourth. Ford's Mikko Hirvonen leads from teammate Jari-Matti Latvala after the two Finns increased their advantage over Loeb from Friday's chaotic first leg. Loeb leads Hirvonen by 14 points in the title race with one event left after Japan. Loeb, who has won 10 times this season, is nearly a minute behind Hirvonen but his title chances were boosted when Subaru's Petter Solberg retired after losing a wheel. Hirvonen survived an early scare when he was forced to slam on the brakes after two deer skipped across the road in front of his speeding car. Saturday's second leg was relatively trouble-free after a high-speed crash involving Ford driver Francois Duval triggered mayhem on Friday. Duval's co-driver Patrick Pivato was injured in the spill.
