Gronholm to lead into final leg
Marcus Gronholm will start the last leg of the Swedish Rally with a 26.5s over the rest of the pack
The Finn has led since the second stage of the event, and could bring Peugeot its first victory on a WRC round since 1986.
The French manufacturer returned to the series in the middle of last season after a 13-year absence. The new 206 WRC has led several events already, but never as convincingly as Gronholm in Sweden.
Colin McRae managed to erode Gronholm's lead during the middle of the day, but some quick times on the final two stages by the Peugeot driver suggested that he had simply been driving within his limits.
Tommi Makinen was fastest on the short Lugnet stage at the end of the day. The Mitsubishi driver is now second, ahead of McRae but still a long way from Gronholm. Thomas Radstrom and Richard Burns remain fourth and fifth, both still capable of snatching second place, but the rest of the pack has gradually dropped further back as the day progressed.
The rally finishes with another five stages tomorrow.
Overall positions at the end of leg two:
1 |
Marcus Gronholm |
Peugeot 206 |
2h31m08.0s |
2 |
Tommi Makinen |
Mitsubishi Lancer |
2h31m34.5s |
3 |
Colin McRae |
Ford Focus |
2h31m37.6s |
4 |
Thomas Radstrom |
Toyota Corolla |
2h31m44.4s |
5 |
Richard Burns |
Subaru Impreza |
2h31m50.9s |
6 |
Juha Kankkunen |
Subaru Impreza |
2h33m17.2s |
7 |
Francois Delecour |
Peugeot 206 |
2h33m38.2s |
8 |
Didier Auriol |
SEAT Cordoba |
2h35m11.8s |
9 |
Markko Martin |
Toyota Corolla |
2h35m18.5s |
10 |
Freddy Loix |
Mitsubishi Carisma |
2h35m19.7s |
11 |
Pasi Hagstrom |
Toyota Corolla |
2h35m59.3s |
12 |
Harri Rovanpera |
SEAT Cordoba |
2h37m14.3s |
13 |
Kenneth Eriksson |
Hyundai Accent |
2h38m23.7s |
14 |
Alister McRae |
Hyundai Accent |
2h38m37.4s |
15 |
Janne Tuohine |
Toyota Corolla |
2h39m02.0s |
Latest stage times from SS15 of the Swedish Rally:
T Makinen 1m53.8s
C McRae 1m55.1s
T Radstrom 1m55.3s
M Gronholm 1m55.9s
R Burns 1m56.3s
F Delecour 1m58.1s
J Kankkunen 1m58.4s
F Loix 1m58.9s
D Auriol 2m03.9s
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