Rally Argentina: Results SS 1&2

Richard Burns was fastest on both stages to take a narrow 0.4s lead overnight from Marcus Gronholm's Peugeot, but it is the stages in the Argentinian countryside where the real battle begins. However, Burns' performance has underlined his tag of pre-rally favourite.

There was early drama in the Ford camp as Carlos Sainz had a new gearbox fitted after just two stages when he stripped the teeth on first gear.

One of the Group N favourites, Claudio Menzi has started the event with a three-minute penalty for a recce infringement (he drove a stage three times instead of the permitted two) and also was found guilty of speeding. Uwe Nittel is a non-starter as his Group N Mitsubishi went missing in transit to Argentina.

ARGENTINA RALLY RESULTS SS1 & 2 (3.44km)
Overall classification after stage:
1 Burns (GB), Subaru, 4m55.6
2 Gronholm (FIN), Peugeot, +0.4s
3 Sainz (E), Ford, +1.3s
4 Delecour (F), Peugeot, +3.6s
5 McRae (GB), Ford, +4.6s
6 Kankkunen (FIN), Subaru, +4.8s
7 Auriol (F), SEAT, +5.1s
8 Gardemeister (FIN), SEAT, +6.3s
9 Solberg (N), Ford, +6.5s
10 Makinen (FIN), Mitsubishi, +7.5s