Leg one round-up: A tale of two Citroens
Citroen may have come up against its first serious opposition with its WRC debut on the Catalunya Rally, but the so far unbeatable Xsara T4 remains unfazed by the prospect
Despite allegations of pre-event recce naughtiness, both T4s are at the head of the pack after today's six-stage first leg held north of the event base at Lloret de Mar, the bargain-bucket holiday resort of the Costa Brava.
Jesus Puras avoided crucifixion by the stewards after being caught with pace notes for one of the new stages before the first recce run had been completed and then led from start to finish today.
Team mate Philippe Bugalski, a controversial winner here with the Xsara T4s two-wheel drive predecessor two years ago, went fastest on the final stage to move into second place and demote the two Peugeot 206s of Didier Auriol and Gilles Panizzi to third and fourth respectively.
Already out are World Champion Marcus Gronholm who lost a wheel and British hero Colin McRae, who couldn't fire his engine at the start of SS6.
Behind the Citroen/Peugeot in-house battle lies Mitsubishi's Tommi Makinen, the current series leader the best of the rest ahead of a revitalised Freddy Loix in the sister car.
The rogue SEAT of Salvador Canellas is in an excellent seventh, but with Ford's Francois Delecour and Carlos Sainz taking the next positions, the factory animals are dfinitely coming in two-by-two.
Adding to Citroen's joy is Sebastien Loeb who has been the new Super 1600 category leader today, edging out Francois Duval's Ford Puma and the Fiat Puntos of Gianni Basso and reigning Group N World Champion Manfred Stohl.
Niall McShea's Ford Puma was set to feature in the thick of the S1600 battle too, but was hampered by brake problems in the early going.
Searing heat has seen road surface temperatures hitting an egg-frying 35 degrees C at times today. Tomorrow's stages to the west of Barcelona will add more abrasive surfaces to the mix and who knows what that will bring?
Jesus Puras, Citroen, 1h02m.44.9s
Philippe Bugalski, Citroen, +8.7s
Didier Auriol, Peugeot, +11.2s
Gilles Panizzi, Peugeot, +18.5s
Tommi Makinen, Mitsubishi, +24.1s
Freddy Loix, Mitsubishi, +51.5s
Salvador Canellas, Seat, +1m03.9s
Francois Delecour, Ford, +1m07.9s
Carlos Sainz, Ford, +1m11.5s
Markko Martin, Subaru, +1m20.2s
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