Gronholm Stretches Lead In Sweden

Finland's Marcus Gronholm claimed five stage wins in the Rally of Sweden on Saturday to strengthen his hold on the race with just one day to come.

The Ford Focus driver, who has won this event four times already, leads the Citroen C4 of reigning world champion Sebastien Loeb by 38.4 seconds.

Loeb won the day's opening special stage but then a poor tyre choice enabled Gronholm to pull away again.

Gronholm's fellow Finn and team-mate Mikko Hirvonen is 1:13.4 away in third.

Gronholm, a two-time world champion, was in superb form, sweeping to wins in stages 10 to 14.

French star Loeb, the three-time world champion who won the season-opener in Monte Carlo last month, picked up two special stage victories and Subaru Impreza driver Mads Ostberg claimed the other.

Petter Solberg, another former world champion, had a far less enjoyable day. The Norwegian, placed third overnight, crashed out during stage 10.