Leg One round-up: Snow rally produces fireworks

The Spaniard was undoubtedly aided today by the misfortunes which befell Ford team mate Colin McRae and Subaru's Richard Burns, both of whom saw their chances of victory expire in a puff of snowdust as they endured time-consuming offs this morning. Carlos admits it was tough out on the sub-zero stages.

"I've been pushing hard today," he said. "It has been very difficult to be the second car on the road. I don't know what being first on the road will be like tomorrow, I'll have to wait and see."

Talk about inter-team contrasts. Fastest time on today's final three stages will seem little more than a consolation prize for his team mate Colin McRae. The Scot may be fire on the ice but after spending six minutes off the road on SS3, his chances of a top six placing are looking slim. He suffered even more drama today, with a gearbox glitch causing a few anxious moments, and a gremlin that keeps shutting down his Focus's electrics - which doesn't help when you've got a heated windscreen to cope with the freezing temperatures.

Meanwhile, Monte Carlo winner Tommi Makinen played the role of snowplough today by running first on each stage, and didn't like it one jot. Overnight snow had left the stages with a slippery covering, which Makinen's Mitsubishi was the first to sweep away. When Autosport.com asked him why he ended the day fifth he shrugged "lack of grip" before stomping off. Oh, touchy!

Harri Rovanpera looked back on his first day in the works Peugeot team with mixed feelings. He impressed by finishing just behind Sainz, but doesn't fancy running second on the road tomorrow.

"I'd rather be third or fourth on the road, that's for sure," he said. "I can't complain, though. It's been a good first day with Peugeot."

But if you're looking for a hard luck story, look no further than the McRae clan. Not only did Colin suffer, but younger brother Alister also had a promising day turn bad. He was virtually matching his experienced Swedish Hyundai team mate Kenneth Ericsson second-for-second until a wastegate pipe came off and robbed his Accent's engine of power. He ended the day 12th instead of seventh as a result.

"It's the first time I've done a proper Swedish Rally," he said. "If it hadn't been for the problem I would have been right up with Kenneth [sixth overall today]. I'm going to try and catch up some time tomorrow."


Saturday's forecast is for another plunge in temperature to around minus-25 degrees tonight before tomorrow's action begins, a little more that 10 degrees warmer. Sainz and Rovanpera will be praying it doesn't snow overnight, unlike those who will tackle each stage behind them...


Carlos Sainz (E)/Luis Moya(E), Ford Focus RS WRC*, 1h19m08.7s
Harri Rovanpera (FIN)/Risto Pietilainen (FIN), Peugeot 206 WRC, +0m13.2s
Thomas Radstrom (S)/Tina Thorner (S), Mitsubishi Carisma GT, +0m19.3s
Didier Auriol(F)/Denis Giraudet(F), Peugeot 206 WRC*, +0m32.3s
Tommi Makinen (FIN)/Risto Mannisenmaki(FIN), Mitsubishi Lancer*, +0m35.6s
Kenneth Eriksson (S)/Staffan Parmander (S), Hyundai Accent WRC*, +0m41.6s
Francois Delecour (F)/Daniel Grataloup (F), Ford Focus RS WRC, +0m49.9s
Petter Solberg (NOR)/Philip Mills(GB), Subaru Impreza WRC, +1m12.2s
Toni Gardemeister (FIN)/ Paavo Lukander (FIN), Peugeot 206 WRC, +1m18.1s
Bruno Thiry (B)/Stephane Prevot(B), Skoda Octavia WRC*, +1m52.4s