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Jari-Matti Latvala - Source: Photosport -
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Finland's Jari-Matti was clinging to a narrow lead on the second day of the World Rally Championship round in northern NSW on Saturday.
The Ford Focus star held a 3.5 second lead over five-time world champion Sebastien Loeb after the four morning sectors.
Latvala dominated the opening day but Loeb has ramped up the pressure on day two to leapfrog his championship rival Mikko Hirvonen, who was in third spot, a further 4.4 seconds behind the Frenchman.
Hirvonen holds a three point lead over Loeb in the championship and needs to finish in front of the Citroen driver - or at least avoid a non-points finish - this weekend.
But he narrowly avoided disaster on Saturday's opening stage before managing to win the sector from Loeb, Spanish Citroen pilot Dani Sordo and Latvala.
Hirvonen swiped a mailbox which punched a hole in a side rear window but pushed on before another scare.
"I hit a mail box on the first stage and had a very lucky escape on the next test," Hirvonen said.
"I went off the road on a fourth gear left bend and the car went into the bushes.
"I bounced back onto the road without losing any speed but if there had been a tree stump or a stone in there then I would certainly have rolled.
"It shows I'm pushing hard and I'll continue to do that," he said.
Latvala won six stages on Friday but has not taken any today. However he has managed to stay ahead of his rivals.
"I've suffered from sweeping the tracks (of gravel) this morning and it has been harder being first on the road than I thought it would be," Latvala said.
"The first stage was wet but the others were mostly dry and I couldn't find a rhythm. I lost time in the slow corners because I slid wide too often."
Meanwhile, in the Production class, New Zealander Hayden Paddon in a Mitsubishi led the competition and was holding down ninth spot overall.
Cody Crocker in a Subaru was the leading Australian, 12th overall.
