Burns crashes out on first stage

The Subaru star, who closed to within nine points of his rivals by winning the New Zealand Rally last month, lost control just 4km into the event. He slid off the road down an eight foot drop, breaking a wheel and the suspension on his Impreza WRC. Co-driver Robert Reid said that even if they had got the car back on the road, it was very doubtful that they could have made it to the end of the stage.

"I don't really know what happened," said Burns. "We slid a bit too wide on one corner and there wasn't enough room on the exit and we went down a bank - simple as that.

"I wasn't pushing particulalry hard and the pace notes were correct too. It slid into the corner as normal, but then didn't regain any grip."

Ford driver Francois Delecour described the scene. "Where Burns went off was a third gear left hander, not a fast corner. There was a marshal there slowing us down but there was no need. He was well off the road."

But with both McRae and Makinen struggling well out of the points at the moment, Burns may not lose any ground in the title battle.

McRae suffered differential problems and a broken handbrake on the opening three stages. He currently lies 13th overall.

Meanwhile, Makinen has also been hit by diff dramas as he gives Mitsubishi's all-new Lancer Evo WRC its rally debut. He is down in 16th place.

"At the moment neither Colin nor Tommi are doing particulalry well," said Burns. "I just hope the other guys keep them out of the points."

Spaniard Jesus Puras is currently leading the rally in his Citroen, as the manufacturer, which specialises in asphalt events, makes its return to the championship.

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