Gronholm predicts tough afternoon

Gronholm dominated the opening part of leg two and went into the lunchtime service 13 seconds ahead of Petter Solberg and 21 seconds ahead of Sebastien Loeb.

The same three stages are repeated this afternoon, and Gronholm believes that with the full field having now passed through the tests, conditions will be very different.

"The roads were okay but I think they will be much rougher on the second pass this afternoon," he said.

"They are quite slippery with all the loose gravel on the surface but even though I am second in the start order, they have cleaned a little and I think Loeb will be able to push harder this afternoon."

Mikko Hirvonen currently runs fourth in the second Ford. He felt that both his tyre choice and his driving this morning had been too conservative.

"The rubber was in such good condition that I think maybe my choice was too hard," said Hirvonen.

"I'm still driving in 'safe' mode, the kind of pace I used in Sardinia, so I need to push harder this afternoon to try to increase my advantage over the cars behind."