McRae out after six stages

McRae retired on the road section after SS6 when the engine seized, and his championship aspirations are now out of his hands. McRae has to hope that championship leader Marcus Gronholm now won't score here in Australia.

Already on the retirement list are Mitsubishi's Freddy Loix and Subaru's Marko Martin, neither of whom made it past the end of the first stage of the day due to transmission problems. Ironically, both are celebrating birthdays. Loix is 30 and Martin is 25. Er, happy birthday...!

Peugeot's Marcus Gronholm led the event from the start of the day, but lost the top spot on SS9 and is now in fourth. Kenneth Eriksson in the Hyundai won the stage, but Juha Kankkunen in the Subaru now takes the overall lead. Of the other championship contenders, Richard Burns is lying just behind Gronholm in fifth, and Ford's Carlos Sainz is a further three places back in eighth.

The cars are heading back to Langley Park for the final stage of Leg One and are due to start the stage at 11:30GMT.

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Visit the official Telstra Rally Australia website at www.rallyaustralia.com.au