Loeb stretches his lead in Ireland

Sligo, Ireland: Drivers, co-drivers and their vehicles continued to battle inclement weather on the second day of Rally of Ireland, even as Marcus Gronholm of the Abu Dhabi-backed BP-Ford World Rally Team was forced to retire from the event after Friday's crash.

However, all was certainly not lost for the Abu Dhabi-backed BP-Ford World Rally Team as second driver Mikko Hirvonen and co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen kept the team's flag flying high to secure the manufacturers' title for the team and also earn some consolation for Gronholm's shock exit from Ireland.

Shaikh Khalid Al Qasimi - the third driver for the Abu Dhabi-backed BP-Ford World Rally Team - also adopted a cautious approach in Ford focus RS.

Frenchman Sebastien Loeb and his co-driver Daniel Elena of the Citroen Total World Rally Team swept the morning stages on the second day yesterday, winning the special stage 13 by the skin of their teeth.

Loeb barely managed to edge past Jari-Matti Latvala of Stobart by 0.1 seconds over 13.46kms. Latvala tried hard to stay in second place, edging out Dani Sordo and co-driver Marc Marti of Citroen by 0.2 seconds.

At the end of special stage 13 yesterday, the three drivers held their positions, with Loeb still staying ahead of Sordo and Latvala.

Wet and windy

Petter Solberg of Subaru took fourth place on the stage, staying 0.1 seconds behind Sordo, while Finn Hirvonen took fifth place, staying 8.2 seconds behind Solberg.

The second leg's wet and windy conditions yesterday made the already slippery tarmac yet more treacherous for the rapidly declining field.

However, Hirvonen seemed determined on adopting a caution-first policy as he kept hopes alive to garner the required sixth or higher spot to ensure a second consecutive FIA WRC constructors' title.

Hirvonen kept up his pace throughout the morning to stay on Latvala's tail, and more importantly firmly in the points positions that would secure the Abu Dhabi-backed outfit the manufacturers' title.

The Finn was 13 seconds slower than Loeb after stage 11, twelve seconds after stage 12, and eight seconds after stage 13, as the Frenchman continued to widen the gap.

"The first leg was the hardest day of the whole season so far," said the rising Finnish star.

"I couldn't find a good rhythm yesterday because my priority was safety and mistakes crept in. I think I chose the wrong tyres for each loop, but it's so hard here to know what the best option is.

"Today it is totally different, the weather is terrible and it is going to be a challenge for all the drivers to stay on the narrow stages," added Hirvonen.