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Leg 2am: Gronholm keeps it steady

Harri Rovanpera starred on the second morning of Rally Australia but it is team-mate Marcus Gronholm who retains overall control of the event. Rovanpera took three of the four morning stages to move into third, while Gronholm has opened up a 30-second lead

The only driver to offer a challenge to the silver 206s has been Subaru's Petter Solberg. The Norwegian started the day with the determination of a man intent on victory and his stage win ended Peugeot's run of six consecutive fastest times.

However, despite all but matching the pace of the French cars in the following stages, he's been unable to put pressure on Gronholm's lead, although he does retain a comfortable advantage over Rovanpera.

Carlos Sainz is the driver who's lost out the most. The Spaniard was unable to recreate his formidable form of the second half of the first day, which moved him to within striking distance of second. In contrast, he has seen Rovanpera overturn a 20-second deficit into a 10-second advantage, and the Ford driver is also under mounting pressure from Tommi Makinen in fifth.

Colin McRae has been the quickest of the Ford drivers so far on the second leg, but the Scot still has a lot of work to do to move up from his current sixth place.

More overnight rain has again made the roads damp and slippery, but despite the conditions there has been little incident among the front runners and all 13 who started the day are still going.

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