Leg 1 wrap-up: Burns ahead

The Finnish event is regarded as one of the most specialised on the World Rally calendar, and only two non-Scandinavian drivers have won it in the past 10 years - Carlos Sainz and Didier Auriol.

Burns bided his time and made a late surge to the front by taking a win on the day's seventh stage to move in to second place. The Subaru star then moved into the lead by capitalising on the fact that Gronholm had to complete the final three tests of the Leg with a puncture.

Nobody is entirely sure, including Burns, whether being first on the road will help or hinder the Brit on Saturday. If it is wet, then the damp conditions will keep the Finnish stages well packed down and he shouldn't have any problems. It if is dry, however, there could be problems. Whatever the outcome, Burns can take solace from the fact that Gronholm won the event last year after leading on Saturday.

"Today has been good," said Burns. "We've been making the right choices all day. It's a good feeling to be leading the rally, but there's still along way to go. I don't know if running first on the road will be an advantage or a disadvantage, because I've never done it here. But I like the stages. I enjoy the excitement and danger of Finland. We'll just have to see what happens tomorrow."

Meanwhile, championship rivals and Ford team mates Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz both struggled. Sainz finished the day a disappointing ninth while McRae, managed to stay just in touch with the leaders in sixth place, albeit 43 seconds adrift.

The Scot's Focus WRC was no match for the Peugeot's of Gronholm, Harri Rovanpera (fourth) and Didier Auriol (fifth). But McRae, who lies second in the drivers' standings, was clearly heartened by the retirement of championship leader Tommi Makinen on the first stage of the day after the four-time world champ tore a wheel strut off his Mitsubishi after colliding with a tree stump.

"We obviously struggled with the road conditions, but it should be better tomorrow," said McRae. "It's better that Tommi's out rather than him winning the rally, but there are still plenty of others..."

Richard Burns hopes he's the one.

For full live timings table click here.

For full entry list click here.

For the itinerary click here.