World Rally: Finland's Marcus Gronholm moved closer to ending world champion Sebastien Loeb's five race winning streak after dominating the Acropolis Rally.
The Ford driver, trailing the Frenchman by 31 points in the standings, won four of the day's six stages to lead Loeb by a hefty one minute and 47.2 seconds with just Sunday's final leg remaining.
Loeb's luck finally ran out when his Citroen's left rear tyre exploded one km into the final stage of the day, forcing him to limp on three wheels to the finish.
The Frenchman held on to second place overall but, barring disaster for Gronholm on Sunday, has no chance of winning and equalling the record of 26 wins held by retired Spaniard Carlos Sainz.
"Now I feel lucky," said Gronholm, whose season has been dogged with ill fortune since he won the opening two rounds in Monte Carlo and Sweden.
"It is easier now, but I have to finish tomorrow. I am happy to be driving such a good car."
The Finn has never before won in Greece but has looked unbeatable this time, winning all of Friday's stages on the rock-strewn gravel roads in the hills to the north and west of Athens.
Loeb remains more than a minute ahead of Ford's Mikko Hirvonen, who was relieved to come through the difficult 12th stage unscathed: "We were lucky to have made it. The worst is behind us," he said.
Norwegian Petter Solberg, who was lying in third place, was less fortunate and was forced out of the rally when he came face to face with Greek driving at its worst.
Travelling on the road to get to the start of the final stage of the day, he was forced off the road by a vehicle travelling on the wrong side.
He avoided a collision but in veering off he hit a rock wall, damaging the suspension and steering on his Subaru.
"It all counts for nothing if you don't get the end result," said Solberg.
His Australian Subaru team mate Chris Atkinson also had to retire before the final stage with a broken steering arm.