Sebastien Loeb has won four of the six stages

Sebastien Loeb built his lead to 56.6 seconds over Citroen team-mate Dani Sordo on day two of the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally.

Loeb, bidding for a record fifth win in the principality, is also 1min 22.8secs ahead of third-placed Finn Mikko Hirvonen, in a Ford Focus.

Sordo, the young Spaniard, took one stage win on Friday but his challenge was curtailed on the sixth stage when he suffered a gearbox problem.

That allowed Hirvonen to make inroads and the Finn will begin Saturday's action just 26 seconds behind Sordo.