Rally Argentina: Results SS3-5

Ford driver Colin McRae was second in the Capilla del Monte stage, four and half seconds behind. Ford team-mate Carlos Sainz was in third, while defending World Champion Tommi Makinen came in fourth. Burns was a further two seconds back in sixth, just behind Didier Auriol in the SEAT.

In stage four however, Burns fought back and, despite still having problems with his Subaru engine over-heating, he drove the stage two seconds faster than Gronholm. Makinen made up one place in the 9.6km San Marcos Sierra stage, while McRae dropped back to fourth after suffering a brake problem.

Stage five, the 16km Tanti to Cosquin stage, was cancelled because there were too many spectators on the stage and officials felt it was unsafe to run.

Overall classification after five stages

1 Gronholm (FIN), Peugeot, 29m16.8
2 Burns (GB), Subaru, +8.9s
3 Sainz (E), Ford, +13.4s
4 Makinen (FIN), Mitsubishi, +17.8s
5 McRae (GB), Ford, +21s
6 Kankkunen (FIN), Subaru, +23.2s
7 Auriol (F), SEAT, +23.4s
8 Gardemeister (FIN), SEAT, +32.6s
9 Eriksson (FIN), Hyundai, +36.2s
10 Loix (B), Mitsubishi, +39.1s