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player ready...ATHENS (Reuters) – Jari-Matti Latvala won four of the eight stages on the second day to take control of the Rally of Greece on Saturday.
The Finn, driving a Volkswagen, built a commanding 64.1-second lead over Spaniard Dani Sordo. Belgium’s Thierry Neuville was a further 39 seconds adrift in third spot.
Latvala was third after the opening day but took advantage when overnight leader Evgeny Novikov suffered a rear puncture after his Ford hit a rock.
“The team did a great job today but it is still early in the race,” the leader told reporters. “There is still a long way to go.”
Latvala was fortunate to escape a similar fate to Novikov after hitting a bank in one stage.
The Russian was down in ninth place at the end of a demanding 12-hour second day.
“I got a puncture and broke something in the suspension,” said Novikov.
Championship leader Sebastien Ogier of France was down in 10th position.
(Reporting by Graham Wood; editing by Tony Jimenez)