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HAGFORS, Sweden - Frenchman Sebastien Ogier, in a VW, edged closer to victory in the 2013 Rally of Sweden on Saturday when he kept World champion and compatriot Sebastian Loeb behind him in second spot.
Ogier has led the race since the second stage and has a 26.9sec advantage over his Citroen rival. Norway's Mads Ostberg (Ford Focus) remains third.
'THE PERFECT RALLY'
"Ogier has done really well," said nine-time World champion Loeb, who won the season-opener in Monte Carlo. "He showed he deserves to win this race. On Friday he was untouchable and on Saturday, when we put him under pressure, he remained faultless.
"Until now, he has driven the perfect rally."
Ogier said he was exhausted by the effort of staying out in front.
"I'm really tired - this rally really takes it out of you. Between each stage, you have to change the tyres, break the ice on the car, it never ends."
The rally will finish on Sunday (Jan 10).
Leg 2 Classification from the 2013 Rally of Sweden
1 Sebastien Ogier (France) Volkswagen 2hr18min22.8
2 Sebastien Loeb (France) Citroen +00min26.9
3 Mads Ostberg (Norway) Ford +00min57.7
4 Jari-Matti Latvala (Finland) Volkswagen +01min03.8
5 Evgeny Novikov (Russia) Ford +01min43.5
6 Thierry Neuville (Belgium) Ford +03min16.2
7 Juho Haenninen (Finland) Ford +04min10.5
8 Henning Solberg (Norway) Ford +05min16.7
9 Martin Prokop (Czech Republic) Ford +07min56.1
10 Daniel Sordo (Spain) Citroen +08min31.9
Ogier has led the race since the second stage and has a 26.9sec advantage over his Citroen rival. Norway's Mads Ostberg (Ford Focus) remains third.
'THE PERFECT RALLY'
"Ogier has done really well," said nine-time World champion Loeb, who won the season-opener in Monte Carlo. "He showed he deserves to win this race. On Friday he was untouchable and on Saturday, when we put him under pressure, he remained faultless.
"Until now, he has driven the perfect rally."
Ogier said he was exhausted by the effort of staying out in front.
"I'm really tired - this rally really takes it out of you. Between each stage, you have to change the tyres, break the ice on the car, it never ends."
The rally will finish on Sunday (Jan 10).
Leg 2 Classification from the 2013 Rally of Sweden
1 Sebastien Ogier (France) Volkswagen 2hr18min22.8
2 Sebastien Loeb (France) Citroen +00min26.9
3 Mads Ostberg (Norway) Ford +00min57.7
4 Jari-Matti Latvala (Finland) Volkswagen +01min03.8
5 Evgeny Novikov (Russia) Ford +01min43.5
6 Thierry Neuville (Belgium) Ford +03min16.2
7 Juho Haenninen (Finland) Ford +04min10.5
8 Henning Solberg (Norway) Ford +05min16.7
9 Martin Prokop (Czech Republic) Ford +07min56.1
10 Daniel Sordo (Spain) Citroen +08min31.9