REIGNING World Champion Petter Solberg turned up the heat on title rival Sebastien Loeb with a blistering display to close in on the Wales Rally GB leader.

Solberg started yesterday's stages slowly but has crept back into contention and moved into second place with victory on stages five and six.

He slashed Loeb's advantage to just 12 seconds as he strives to keep alive his dream of retaining the world title.

Loeb, who drives for Citroen, is 30 points clear in the title race and with just 50 left to play for, Solberg knows he cannot miss the opportunity to close in this weekend.

Solberg is content with his afternoon display, even though he does not expect to catch Loeb until today's leg of eight stages.

The Subaru driver said: "It's getting better, I must say. It helped a lot once we sorted the suspension out before stage four.

"Now I've got a comfortable pace and there's more in reserve if I need it. I've got a good feeling with no worries.

Solberg's afternoon form pushed Peugeot's Marcus Gronholm into third place, a further 4.5secs adrift.

Ford's Markko Martin is fourth and the last of the genuine victory candidates with just over 31 seconds separating him from the lead.

Citroen's veteran former champion Carlos Sainz needs a minor miracle if he is to challenge for a win from fifth after losing almost a minute to team-mate Loeb over the first six stages.

Ford driver Francois Duval is sixth with Peugeot's Harri Rovanpera and Subaru's Mikko Hirvonen seventh and eighth respectively.

Yorkshire-based Alistair Ginley took his Subaru to 17th.

In the production championship, Scotsman Alister McRae looks set to take over the lead of the series after a fine drive today.

The Mitsubishi driver, brother of former world champion Colin, leads the category by well over a minute from local hero Gywndaf Evans. Victory would guarantee McRae the championship lead with only one rally remaining.

In the production championship, Scotsman Alister McRae looks set to take over the lead of the series after a fine drive.

A spate of mechanical failures troubled several of the other Britons on show, with Jimmy McRae, father of former world champion Colin, leading that list with his retirement this morning.

Welshmen Nathan O'Connor, Huw Jeffreys, Chris Davies, Leon Pesticcio and Craig Middleton all suffered car problems which forced their retirements.

Fellow Britons Steve Petch, Gavin Cox and Nigel Heath also failed to make the end of the day.

Lancashire driver Tom Boardman has made a fine start in his debut Wales Rally GB, climbing from his start number of 107 to 48th overall at the end of the first full day of action, driving his self-prepared Peugeot 206.