Day 1pm: Peugeot 1-2

Gronholm had stalked the reigning world champion through the first three stages of the day and swept into the lead when Soberg was forced to slow to protect his Subaru engine.

Rovanpera, running third before Solberg's problems set-in, immediately began to close the 30s gap to his team leader. He made up 12s on SS5 and another eight on SS6.

Sebastien Loeb is now third overall after a stunning fightback through the day after a dreadful first stage that cost him 41.7s to the leaders. After that the Frenchman was fastest on two of the day's remaining five stages to close the gap to Gronholm to just 20s. That puts him well within range of victory.

Championship rival and points leader Markko Martin complained that running first on the road, as usual, was a major disadvantage but still he brought home his Ford Focus fourth overall. The Estonian was just a second behind Loeb and with his challenge set to get stronger tomorrow, day two is shaping up for a great battle.

Martin's Focus was the only factory Ford to make it through day one however after Francois Duval was forced to retire early with suspension damage. "I didn't hit anything," he said. "The wheel studs must have sheared."

Mikko Hirvonen was sixth in the second Subaru but over two minutes off the pace, while Mitsubishi's Gilles Panizzi was eighth overall more than four minutes behind the leaders.

But at least they are in the points. Solberg, who had started the day so strongly, is now 11th overall and has to make up five minutes on the road just to score a single point.