Ogier puts brakes on Mini's maximum push

Citroen driver Sebastien Ogier takes a 9.5sec lead over Dani Sordo into Sunday's final stages of the Rally of France where he will attempt to shatter a rare victory charge by a Mini Cooper. Sordo began day two leading by one second in his Mini, but Ogier dominated Saturday's later action, winning four stages. "The lead is still not comfortable so we will have to drive well until the end," said Ogier. "I will clean the road a bit in the morning because there is some gravel but if it's foggy like it has been on all the mornings then it can be difficult for everybody and maybe a small advantage for me because of the dust." Sordo, whose Mini team are racing in just their fourth event of the season, said he will push for an unlikely victory on Sunday, having already captured three stages in the race. "We are so close so we will see. It's a short day on Sunday but difficult because we have some gravel and there could be some dust," he said. "I will still push for the win because we have nothing to lose. We did a big push today but it was not enough at the end but we try to continue like that." Petter Solberg was leading when a puncture slowed his private Citroen on Saturday's third stage and is now 51.9sec adrift of top spot in third overall. Earlier, Brazilian driver Daniel Oliveira crashed out in a spectacular accident. Oliveira and his co-driver Carlos Magalhaes came to grief in the 15th stage with the pair having to be removed from their Mini Cooper. One of Oliveira's entourage told France Bleu Alsace radio: "He is conscious and that's the most important thing." Sebastien Loeb, chasing an eighth world title, was forced out of this 11th leg of the world championship season after his Citroen suffered engine problems on Friday. Loeb heads the race for the title on 196 points, 15 points clear of Ford's Finnish driver Mikko Hirvonen. Ford driver Hirvonen finished the day down in fifth place, more than three minutes off the pace.