Burns closes on victory

two years.
The Oxford driver has to steer is Subaru through the final two
stage - with no service between them - before he can celebrate his first
win of the season but so far he has seemed in total control of the most
gruelling event on the planet.

Burns took the lead on the second stage of the event and has been at the
head of the pack ever since. Remarkably, on a rally where the roads are
rock-strewn and tortuous, he has still not suffered a puncture and it is
this amazing reliability that has kept him ahead with team mate Juha
Kankkunen tracking him all the way.

Didier Auriol continues to hold third for SEAT while Ford has again
suffered on the final morning as speeds rose and brought back the
inevitable punctures.

It is expected that Carlos Sainz will catch and pass
his team mate Petter Solberg over these final two stages, either by being
quicker or through some team manipulation to ensure the Spaniard gains and
extra championship point.

One of the most remarkable results will be that of Skoda, first time in
Africa and on course to get both cars home in the points.

By now most drivers are cruising to consolidate their positions but the
Safari can always provide a sting in the tail. This is one event that's not
over until the cars are across the finish ramp (at approximately 1pm UK
time today).