Galli: "I'm not disappointed"

The Italian, who ran as high as third during leg one and was fending off Markko Martin earlier today, suspected he might have hit a rock or a bank on SS13. He began to have trouble with his Mitsubishi Lancer's handling during the stage and then suffered two spins on the final blast around the Hagfors rallycross track.

"I thought I had a puncture," he said. "But then it became clear that the driveshaft was the problem. I only had drive to the front wheels and the handbrake didn't work. Driving was not so easy.

"But we don't have to forget why we are here, and we have to understand where we have come from already. I am not disappointed. I'm very happy for the team and for me because we have been strong."

After several seasons in the doldrums, Mitsubishi has made an excellent start to 2005 - with Gilles Panizzi reaching the podium in Monte Carlo and now Galli proving the star of the rally in Sweden. He remains in the points in eighth and could rise higher if he can replicate his earlier form on the final leg.

Galli's team-mate Harri Rovanpera is seventh and within a few seconds of fifth-placed Toni Gardemeister. Rovanpera is still not fully comfortable with the Lancer and has struggled to match Galli for most of the rally, but did pick up his pace during leg two.