SS 16, Macheras: McRae launches his attack

McRae's Ford team mate Carlos Sainz was second fastest, the Spaniard closing in on Marcus Gronholm's Peugeot. Gronholm, who is third on the road, was third fastest on the stage, and is in turn also narrowing the gap to Burns.

Burns' relatively lethargic pace through the stage again emphasises the problems facing the first car through an unused stage, as it clears dust off the surface and inevitably improves conditions for those behind.

McRae's decision to hold back over the last stage of leg two to avoid running first on the road, looks likely to pay off. The Scot still has a further two 'dirty' stages on which to make good his victory charge before the playing field is levelled again on repeated sections for the rally finale.

Burns' stage time was only the fifth best and Subaru's English star is battling grimly to stay close enough to McRae to make a fightback over the final four stages viable.

Freddy Loix and Alister McRae were fourth and sixth fastest for Mitsubishi and Hyundai respectively as each chips away at the big gap to the crew ahead. Loix is still 50.3s adrift of Subaru's Toshi Arai and McRae 1m30.3s behind top privateer Pasi Hagstroem's Toyota.

For SS16 Macheras results click here.

For full results table click here.

For full entry list click here.

For the itinerary click here.