McRae and Burns gear up for Argentina showdown

McRae took a 37.1s lead over Burns into today's final leg but the Englishman has chipped away at the Scot's lead and has cut it to 21.8s with 49kms to go. It will be a very tall order for Burns to outrun McRae, but the Scot is under more pressure than he'd planned.

McRae feels he's at a slight disadvantage running first on the road but as Burns is the next car through the stages the difference is marginal. Providing McRae can keep his head on the awesome Giulio Cesare stage (much loved by Tommi Makinen who holds the stage record) and the high altitude El Condor finale, he can collect his first points of the season.

If McRae wins this rally he will leap into a share of third place in the points table but it will be at least two more events before he could overhaul series leader Makinen. Second place for Burns would take the Subaru driver into fifth place, one point adrift of McRae.

More crucially, both British drivers would start next month's Cyprus Rally among the top crews. McRae began this event running 14th on the road, probably the lowest start position he's had in years, and such things add to his troubles as gravel roads deteriorate rapidly as the WRC cars rip the surface to shreds.

Today saw another retirement for World Champ Marcus Gronholm who slid off the road and burnt out his clutch attempting to get back to the stage. Makinen won today's opening stage, Gronholm the next and Burns has taken the last two tests.

Click here for latest stage results and overall positions.

Click here for live timing table.