Everyone must follow Jesus

However, the dominance of Puras and team-mate Philippe Bugalski, who lies second, has once again sparking controversy over the Formula 2 regulations.

The two-wheel drive cars are able to run almost 500kgs lighter than the World Rally Cars of the top teams, giving them a massive power to weight ratio advantage.

Puras and Bugalski took their Xsara kit cars to the head of the pack and stayed there throughout the day while their closest challengers were the Toyotas of Didier Auriol and Spanish hero Carlos Sainz.

World Champion Tommi Makinen lay fifth with his Mitsubishi team mate Freddy Loix, now back after his Safari Rally injuries, in sixth.

Richard Burns was hampered by lack of grip as, once again, Pirelli failed to deliver the tyres for the job and the Subaru ace was a distant seventh overnight.

Colin McRae's day started steadily but a problem with the anti-lag system on his Ford Focus engine caused the turbo to stop. With only 30% power available the Scot slipped out of the top 30 and down among the privateers and for a while the team considered the possibility of withdrawing McRae from the event for the second day.

1. Jesus Puras Citroen 1h.27'19"400

2. Philippe Bugalski Citroen 1h27'26"400

3. Didier Auriol Toyota 1h2729"700

4. Carlos Sainz Toyota 1h27'36"800

5. Tommi Makinen Mitsubishi 1h27'53"700

6. Freddy Loix Mitsubishi 1h28'15"500

7. Richard Burns Subaru 1h28'29"700

8. Armin Schwarz Skoda 1h28'46"200

9. Adruzilo Lopes Peugeot 1h28'50"400

10. Bruno Thiry Subaru 1h29'04"700