Port Aventura service 2: The inside line

. "I had to go about 15km with the brake pedal very long. It went right to the floor and I had to pump it before each corner. It cost me a lot of time, at least 10 seconds."

Reported no major problems but was impressed by the stage times set by the Citroens...

"I attacked on that stage more than on any other. I can see the braking points of the cars in front and a lot of the time I braked later. At the finish [brother and co-driver] Herve said: 'I think it's good,' and I agreed. Then when I saw the first three times, I could not understand."

"After 15km there was an ATS mousse [puncture protection system] problem and the vibration was so bad that the car was changing gear by itself." A change of centre differential before the stage had cured the car's instability under braking.

"My best stage of the rally so far."

Right front puncture in the stage. Mousse system prevented deflation, but McRae had to cope with a bad vibration for 15km.

Continuing electronic problems meant five separate episodes of complete electronic shutdown during SS9. In service no less than 16 mechanics were working on the car to change the gearbox and all its associated electronics.

The Spaniard is out of the rally after crashing out on SS9. Canellas was lying in 10th before his exit.