Day 2: Solberg survives

The Subaru star survived a day that saw the last two world champions, Marcus Gronholm and Richard Burns, retire along with the pair of works Fords and a host of other top WRC cars.

Rovanpera was the only driver able to challenge Solberg, although the Finn found himself slowed by overheating problems on his Peugeot. Nevertheless, with Rovanpera needing a strong result to secure a drive next year, expect him to put on a charge.

Citroen was the only major works team to have all three of its cars survive the day intact. Young upstart Sebastien Loeb lies third, albeit some 2m44s back from Solberg. Colin McRae is in fourth, a further 44.4s down the road, with Carlos Sainz a minute behind his Scottish team-mate.

Rising Finnish star Mikko Hirvonen is in an impressive sixth place in the sole remaining works Ford, with Armin Schwarz seventh in his Hyundai Accent.

An indication of the sheer wanton destruction this event has wreaked on the works WRC teams can be found by the fact that British privateer Alistair Ginley currently sits in the final world championship points paying position in a privateer Focus.