Leg 2: Panizzi heads Peugeot trio

Gilles Panizzi's domination of the event has continued throughout Saturday's second leg. On today's seven stages only Richard Burns and Subaru's Petter Solberg has been able to halt Panizzi's run of fastest times, but the Norwegian's two stage wins have been tempered by a poor tyre choice for a batch of three stages and then a puncture on the day's final test. He ends the day seventh overall.

"The feeling in the car in the wet is incredible," said Panizzi. "I've never had a car that felt this good in the wet. We worked very hard before the rally and this is really good for the team. Yes I had a problem with the tyres on the first stage this morning, but the feeling with the car is good."

On a rally where big-name retirements have been few and far between, today's most significant development was the demise of Tommi Makinen. The Finn's Corsican record is not something to write home about and, when he was caught in a downpour at the start of SS10, he was sidelined after aquaplaning into a wall and smashing the Subaru's suspension.

This afternoon's stages have seen very little consistency among the leading crews but Colin McRae threw caution to the wind and attacked the stages in a formerly ill-handling Ford Focus, only narrowly being beaten for fastest time on two of the final three stages by the flying Panizzi. The Scot now lies fifth overall and co-driver Nicky Grist is hopeful the team can move ahead of Philippe Bugalski to finish fourth and collect four championship points.

However after a disappointing opening leg yesterday, Bugalski has finally got the Citroen into the points positions and will do anything not to let the Scot past. He has his eyes firmly set on fourth behind the Peugeot trio.

Burns has nearly a minute's advantage ahead of Bugalski and his co-driver Robert Reid is happy with the gap. "It's not a case of defending tomorrow, but its (the gap) is certainly more comfortable than what it was," he said.

Panizzi has won three WRC events in his career, the first being this event in 2000. Unless the fates against him tomorrow then he will notch up his fourth win, one that is arguably the most deserved so far.

"I hope I will win," said Panizzi. "But I will make sure I look at Marcus and Richard's times," he added.