Andros: Muller takes provisional lead

However, it was Emmanuel Collard who set the fastest time, four tenths better than Muller's Opel Astra over two laps of the circuit.

Nissan driver Collard, who had said last week that he hoped to be aiming for the podium by the end of the season, is therefore currently lying third in only in only his second Andros meeting.

Pierre Colard, in the 2-litre Peugeot 306, set the third time after two consistent laps, with Snobeck fourth.

With the sun shining in Andorra, and the temperature rising, the track was icy in the top section and mainly rocky in the bottom.

Times, however,were significantly quicker than on Saturday.

With the ground showing through more and more, tyres were the determining factor.

Both Marcel Tarrès and Jean-Philippe Dayraut were unhappy with their tyres, and opted to change them for the third session.

This did not play to their advantage, as the studs take a few laps to get to optimal performance.

Dayraut finished tenth, with Tarrès slightly faster in the Xsara, coming in ninth.

Guyhlem Dussaucy was the best in the Promotion category in this third session, giving him the provisional lead after qualifying.

He was followed by the distinctive Subaru Forester driven by Christophe Balas, with Laurent Fouquet's Renault Clio in third place.