SS1, Valkola 1: Rovanpera out front

While World Rally Championship leader Tommi Makinen found himself heading for an early exit after hitting a tree stump, (click here for separate story), the brace of Peugeot 206 WRCs were separated by just 0.8s after the first competitive section of the event - the 8.42 km Valkola 1 stage.

Subaru's Richard Burns also made a good start as he fights to keep his championship hopes alive. The Brit completed the opening test just 1.9s behind Rovanpera in third place.

Didier Auriol finished fourth fastest to make it three Peugeots in the top four. The Frenchman has had to forego his status to score points for the French manufacturer on this event to make way for Rovanpera and his local knowledge.

Markko Martin was fifth in the second Subaru while local boy Jani Paasonen in his privateer Ford Focus finished an impressive sixth fastest ahead of both the Blue Oval's lead works drivers Carlos Sainz and Colin McRae in equal seventh and 10th respectively.

Sainz was run close by another privateer Sebastian Lindholm in a Peugeot 206. The Finn set exactly the same time as the Spanish three time world champion.

The drivers head directly for the day's second longest test, the 23.47 km Lankamaa 1 stage.

For SS1, Valkola 1, results, click here.

For full live timings table click here.

For full entry list click here.

For the itinerary click here.