McRae looks on the bright side

McRae has never had a good result in Finland, and has often been out of the rally before the end of leg one, but was looking set for 4th place this year until the engine in his Ford Focus failed on the final stage.

'The car was unwell, but it was running,' explained McRae. 'We were going quickly enough to stay ahead of Gardemeister and claim sixth place.

'Then the engine died and we couldn't even coast to the end.

'At least I have now done the whole rally at speed. You could see yesterday that as I became more accustomed to the Finnish roads my times got faster and faster.

'That's got to be a good omen for the future.'

Ford team boss Malcolm Wilson was also positive after a rally in which neither of his drivers would score points despite setting five fastest stage times between them.

'Despite our disappointment, there are several positives,' he said. 'We have acquired a vast bank of knowledge for next year's event. Colin has now driven all the stages at competitive speeds, which he has not previously achieved.

'World Rallying has become so closely fought that a driver cannot afford to have a single weak event in his armoury. I know we are heading in the right direction and now we must banish any remaining gremlins.'