Stage 14: Gronholm reasserts his authority

McRae had sliced the Finn's advantage down to just 19s earlier today, but the Scot set a poor time on the Skog 2 stage and has now slumped to third behind Tommi Makinen, albeit only 1.5s away from the reigning champion.

Behind this battle, Thomas Radstrom is coming under increasing pressure for fourth from Richard Burns.

Juha Kankkunen is now more secure in sixth place after Francois Delecour's early challenge faded. Similarly, a slow time on Skog for Markko Martin means that Didier Auriol is still comfortable in eighth and the young Estonian is now just 1.2s in front of Freddy Loix.

Overall positions after stage 14, Skog 2:

T Makinen 12m56.5s

R Burns 12m57.8s

T Radstrom 12m59.1s

C McRae 13m04.4s

F Loix 13m06.8s

J Kankkunen 13m10.7s

D Auriol 13m13.0s

P Hagstrom 13m14.6s

F Delecour 13m15.4s

M Martin 13m17.8s

A McRae 13m23.3s

K Eriksson 13m41.0s