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Sect. 2, Kajiado: Mitsubishis attack

Tommi Makinen's Mitsubishi Lancer suffered two punctures on the 49.95km Kajiado test, but despite the setback the Finn was quickest through the section. However team mate Freddy Loix was not to be outdone as he managed to set an identical time to Makinen through the shortest timed section of the Safari Rally

The ATS mousse system on Makinen's Michelins tyres saved him from losing serious time and he now takes overall lead of the event after Skoda's Armin Schwarz fell back slightly. The German was sixth fastest through Kajiado and currently lies second overall, 26 seconds back from Makinen.

Colin McRae is staying in touch with his championship rival - the Scot in the Ford Focus RS WRC was nine seconds off Makinen's pace on the section and lies 33 seconds back on the overall leaderboard.

McRae, gunning for his fourth WRC win in a row, is taking a cautious approach on the first leg.

"We're just going steady," he said "Maybe even slower than two years ago (McRae's last win on the Safari)."

Both McRae and Makinen complained they had to slow down slightly because of spectators on the road.

After finishing the first section nearly two minutes off the pace because of a puncture, the second Focus of Carlos Sainz endured more bad luck on Kajiado when his Focus suffered another blow out 8km from the end of the section. He was seventh on the section, 44 seconds behind the flying Mitsubishis and made it back to service on three wheels.

Petter Solberg, Subaru's sole remaining manufacturer points scorer, holds his fourth place overall after setting the fourth fastest time through Kajiado. However one man having a little better luck is Didier Auriol in the Peugeot. He managed to set the fifth fastest time through the test after his car caught fire on the first section of the day. However the Frenchman is still nearly seven minutes off the front-running pace.

With the rally now at its halfway point on the first day, drivers return to Whistling Thorns service before attacking another biggie - the 112.53km Orien section.

For Sect. 2 Kajiado results click here.

For full live timings table click here.

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