Leg one round-up: Mud, fog, chaos and Tommi

With big gaps throughout the leaderboard, this was a long way from the event that in 1998 saw the closest finish in the sport's history, with Colin McRae edging out Carlos Sainz by just 2.1 seconds.

However, regardless of the time difference, Makinen would be more than happy to win here as it would round off his 100th WRC event start in fine style and underline his claim to the championship crown after just one year's absence.

The conditions on the stages were treacherous in the extreme. Thick mud made life hard enough for the first two or three cars, but it then quickly gave way to severely rutted and rocky roads that destroyed wheels and suspension for later cars and added to the ever-increasing time gaps.

With cars stuck in stages after the first run, it was deemed folly in the extreme to attempt a second pass, but the organisers foolishly persevered. One stage had to be cancelled as it was still blocked with cars and another then had to go following the delays.

At present this is a three-car rally. Makinen leads Carlos Sainz with Swedish Rally winner Harri Rovanpera in close attendance (having lost second after his radiator dramas after SS9) but the rest of the field is already well distant.

Both Skodas are on the way home; Bruno Thiry sidelined after last night's superspecial and Armin Schwarz out with a broken clutch before today's first stage.

Ford lost Colin McRae with a damaged engine on SS8, while Subaru saw Toshi Arai and Petter Solberg both retire with suspension damage amid the rocks.

"It's been a really difficult day," said Makinen. "The fog has made it really hard to see and the mud means that there is very little grip. I can't remember a Portugal Rally as bad as this."

Second placed Rovanpera added, "We are usually able to follow the lines of the car in front, but in these conditions it didn't really make a lot of difference."

Sainz said he wasn't feeling too optimistic about the chances of an improvement in the weather.

"It's been raining for a long time in Portugal and I don't think it will change much before the end of the event," he said. "It's quite hard to just stay on the road without having to drive quickly, but we will try."

Ironically the organisers took the decision a few days ago to start tomorrow's leg half an hour earlier than originally planned. The purpose of the decision was to ensure that the final stages at Mortagua were not run in darkness. Why? Because it is traditionally dusty...