PARIS: Frenchman Sebastien Loeb won five of the first eight stages of the Rallye de France Friday to end the first day in front as he targets an unprecedented seventh consecutive world title. The Citroen driver held a 22.7-second lead over Spanish teammate Daniel Sordo. Frenchman Sebastien Ogier, driver of the third official Citroen C4, was third 25.6 seconds off the pace with Ford's Finn Jari Matti Latvala fourth. A win would give Loeb the world title with two rallies left, although second place would be enough if Ogier fails to finish the race in the top four. Loeb, 36, said he was overcome by emotion at the start of the second stage of the rally, which used to take place in Corsica but has been moved to the Alsace region where he was born. “This is the first stage I drove in rallying,” he was quoted as saying World Rally Championship website, referring to his debut 13 years ago at the wheel of a Peugeot 106. “I forgot about that quickly. The road was slippery and I had to concentrate,” he added. Loeb went on to win the four stages of the morning session building up a 14.7-second lead over Ogier. After winning all four stages in the morning, Loeb struggled in the afternoon on roads covered with mud and offering poor grip. “I am glad to be out of that last stage,” Loeb said. “It was a good day, but the last stage was so tricky, it was very difficult. We had to be really careful, I think we lost 40 seconds, so if somebody coming from behind wants to push maybe they can take me. But I'm happy to be here.” Latvala ended the Frenchman's winning run in the fifth stage as Loeb seemed to drive more cautiously, satisfying himself with fifth place over the 9.9-km section. The Finn also pipped the Frenchman in the 24.12-km last stage of the day. Sordo was quickest in the seventh stage after Loeb won the sixth.
