Leg 2 wrap-up: All set for a thriller

Colin McRae's blunder in failing to appear at the right time for the start order selection last night left him struggling for grip at the head of the field, while Burns can seemingly do nothing to halt Gronholm's inexorable charge at the front of the pack.

Gronholm was fastest on every stage today except for the final Langley Park Super Special. Burns lies second but with only four stages to go tomorrow it seems unlikely that he can overturn the Finn's 34.3sec advantage.

"I'm happy with what we've achieved today but I've got to keep Didier [Auriol] behind me tomorrow and also try to pressure Marcus into a mistake," said Burns. "Gronholm's got a very good lead right now."

Ford tried to help McRae by persuading Francois Delecour to book out of the start area 13 minutes early and run ahead of his team mate. The assistance of just one car ahead of him was useful but when Delecour crashed on today's third stage it all turned to nothing.

The stage was stopped and cancelled as Delecour's co-driver, Daniel Grataloup, was flown to hospital where he was diagnosed with cracked ribs, collar bone and shoulder plus a minor lung puncture. He will stay in Perth for a week before flying home to France.

Even an afternoon rain shower wasn't enough to change the nature of the gravel roads and McRae's error of last night cost him around 1m30s over today's stages.

Assuming the positions remain as they are, fifth-placed McRae will take the lead of the championship as Tommi Makinen, himself competing with a cracked vertebra following his Corsica shunt, is battling with Subaru's Petter Solberg for sixth. Burns will haul himself straight into the title fight, while Ford's Carlos Sainz is left with an outside shot at the title.

If all goes to plan tomorrow, it should be enough to ensure a packed house in Cardiff...

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