World rally champion Sebastien Loeb lost his narrow lead and much of his hope of winning a ninth Rally of Germany when he dropped more than a minute behind fellow Citroen driver Sebastien Ogier after a puncture on the final stage of the second day.
Loeb, the seven-times world champion who also leads the standings this season, had held off a challenge from fellow Frenchman Ogier midway through the day's racing and went into the repeated Panzerplatte stage with an advantage of more than three seconds.
However, he dropped a one minute 11.3 seconds behind his countryman after he sustained a front-wheel puncture towards the end of the stage.
Spaniard Dani Sordo in a Mini held on for third place, almost a minute behind Loeb, ahead of Finland's Mikko Hirvonen in a Ford.
