Loeb overtakes Alen's stage record, eyes victory

Sebastien Loeb made history on Saturday, overtaking legendary Finn Markku Alen's record of 801 special stage wins as he maintained his lead in the Rally of Catalunya. Citroen's seven-time world rally champion posted the quickest time in the first 45km special of day two to draw level with Alen, then overtook his benchmark in the following 12km stage -- his 802nd career success. By the end of the day, Loeb led Ford duo Jari-Matti Latvala, by 27.6sec, and Mikko Hirvonen, who was 1min 51.8sec off the pace. Loeb and Hirvonen came into this event neck-and-neck on 196 points in the overall standings as the world rally championship reaches its conclusion here and at the season-closer in Wales. "I have a good feeling and my car is going well," said Loeb. "I have a good rhythm but I am having to push because Jari-Matti is surprisingly fast on tarmac. My lead should be enough tomorrow if I make no mistakes." Latvala said: "It?s been the best day of my career ever on tarmac, to be fighting in Catalunya with Loeb. I?ve not been able to catch him so much but I am still pleased for my day. I will pressurise him tomorrow." Loeb, whose lead at the end of Friday stood at 30.6sec, began day two with a brace of stage wins although he was not able to match Latvala?s pace in the afternoon on Saturday. Hirvonen endured a lacklustre day in the second Ford Fiesta and was coming under increasing pressure from fourth-placed Dani Sordo until he went quicker than the Spanish Mini driver on Saturday's final test. The Ford driver will start day three with a margin of 37.4sec over Sordo, who went fastest of all on stage 11. Sebastien Ogier, in the second factory Citroen, is fifth overnight after losing more ground when he suffered a puncture for the second consecutive day.