McRae cautious over title chances

McRae was out to take full advantage of the fact that Makinen retired on the opening stage of his home event after his Mitsubishi hit a tree stump. The Scot managed to get ahead of Peugeot's Harri Rovanpera on the final stage to take third and a welcome four points.

Despite closing the gap however, the Ford ace believes his hopes of a second world championship hang on several factors as the calendar heads into its home stretch with five rounds to go.

"It really depends on the new Mitsubishi, how our car goes on asphalt in San Remo and Corsica and also the Citroens," said McRae.

Makinen's new Lancer WRC is set make its debut on the San Remo Rally in October, when the asphalt-conquering Citroen Xsara T4s of Philippe Bugalski and Jesus Puras also return to the WRC.

McRae's Ford team mate Carlos Sainz is third in the championship seven points behind the Scotsman on 27, while Harri Rovanpera is on 23, closely followed by Richard Burns on 21.

Marcus Gronholm had not taken a WRC victory since Rally Australia last year before his Finnish win on Sunday. The reigning world champion's home victory moved him into sixth place in the standings, but despite the Peugeot ace's rediscovered form, McRae does not seem him as a major threat.

"I think he'll be a fly in the ointment on the asphalt rounds, rather than an outright winner," said McRae. "But then again, look at where we were four rallies ago."

The WRC heads to New Zealand in a month's time, where McRae has won three times before. The Scot has also won all five of the remaining rallies at some point during his career.