Rallying-Clean sweep of stage wins for leader Loeb in Portugal

LISBON, April 4 (Reuters) - Five-times world champion Sebastien Loeb achieved a clean sweep of six stage wins in the Rally Portugal on Saturday.

"It's been a very good day. I did all I could to increase my lead," the Frenchman told the world rally championship website (www.wrc.com).

Ford driver Mikko Hirvonen of Finland was second, 26.8 seconds adrift going into the final day on Sunday.

Loeb's Citroen team mate Daniel Sordo of Spain claimed third spot, 56.4 seconds off the pace.

Twice world champion Marcus Gronholm, making a one-off comeback from retirement for this rally, crashed on one of the stages but the Finn said he might be able to restart on Sunday.

Norway's Petter Solberg, who set up his own team after Subaru's world championship exit earlier this year, ended the day in fourth spot in his 2005 specification Citroen.

"Our right-hand tyre lost its tread so it was a bit scary in some of the corners," he said.

"I had to calm right down over the final 10-km but generally it's been a good day."

(Reporting by Shrikesh Laxmidas, editing by Tony Jimenez. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)