CARIDFF (AFP) - Overnight leader Sebastien Loeb stayed in charge of the Rally of Great Britain on a day overshadowed by disruption caused by pro-hunting protestors.
The world championship leader, who had led Subaru driver Petter Solberg, the reigning world champion, by 17.02 seconds after two stages, eventually finished the day 7.1sec ahead with Markko Martin, in a Ford, in third spot.
Finland's Marcus Gronholm, driving a Peugeot, was forced out of the race when he lost a tyre after slippery and muddy conditions ended his challenge as he attacked from the front during the 13.3km ninth special stage.
He had been sitting third at the time.
"On Friday, I thought it might be difficult to stay at the top of the leaderboard but when I realized that I could, I attacked," said Loeb who went into the race with a 30-point lead in the championship standings over Solberg. But the action in the race was disrupted from the end of stage 10 to the start of stage 11.
The protesters formed a human shield to block cars from passing through the small village of Llanfinangel Nant Bran.
The protesters delayed the first 12 cars on the road before moving aside to allow the event to continue. Stage 11 was delayed by 25 minutes as a result.
Protesters arguing against a ban on hunting with hounds this week invaded the House of Commons and clashed with police outside Parliament.
The incident comes after Swedish driver Daniel Carlsson was forced out of the race during Friday's SS6 after being stopped by Welsh police during an untimed section because of the condition of the tyres of his Peugeot 307.
"The policeman considered that my tyres were not road worthy," he said.
"As the four tyres were damaged he wouldn't let me drive. A superior then came and decided to escort me to a place where my team could change the wheels."
Over zealous Welsh police, who have in the past cautioned competitors for speeding, have lead to threats from Max Mosley, the president of motor racing's governing body the FIA, to find another venue for the event than Cardiff.