SS11: Makinen shows who’s boss

Leader Harri Rovanpera was close behind him, and Thomas Radstrom in the second Misubishi was also right there to send the top three into the final two kilometre stage separated by under 10 seconds in the order Rovanpera, Makinen, Radstrom.

Makinen at last broke Colin McRae's run of seven fastest stage times on the trot. The Scot had been fastest on every stage since he spent six minutes trapped on a snowbank on SS3, but this time could only manage 11th fastest time as he tried a different type of tyre, which didn't work as planned. Richard Burns was also bundled out of his accustomed place in the top three times on the 27.79km stage. The Subaru number one was fourth fastest, behind the lead trio.

Carlos Sainz lost another 15 seconds running first on the road, and looks likely to head into the overnight halt in a very similar position time-wise to the one Makinen occupied after leg one. Sainz is now 27.7s off the lead; Makinen finished leg one 35.6s down.

The battle for fifth and sixth places lost Hyundai's Kenneth Eriksson, when the Swede dropped over two minutes on the stage when he lost fourth, fifth and sixth gears, but the speed of Subaru's Petter Solberg over the stage means that he too is now in contention for that vital final point. Solberg is now just two seconds behind Auriol.

Eriksson's problems dropped him to 10th overall, and is nursing his hamstrung car to the end of the day, behind brilliant newcomer Daniel Carlsson in the Toyota and right in McRae's sights as he targets a top 10 place, and eventually, a points finish.

It remains to be seen whether Makinen chooses to drop behind his team mate Radstrom on the last stage to secure third spot on the road tomorrow, thereby increasing his chances of encountering better road conditions - and negating any advantage Sainz might find from starting fourth...


Tommi Makinen (FIN)/Risto Mannisenmaki(FIN), Mitsubishi Lancer*, 14m50.2s
Harri Rovanpera (FIN)/Risto Pietilainen (FIN), Peugeot 206 WRC, 14m54.6s
Thomas Radstrom (S)/Tina Thorner (S), Mitsubishi Carisma GT*, 14m56.5s
Richard Burns (GB)/Robert Reid(GB), Subaru Impreza WRC*, 14m57.4s
Petter Solberg (NOR)/Philip Mills(GB), Subaru Impreza WRC*, 14:59.3s
Toni Gardemeister (FIN)/ Paavo Lukander (FIN), Peugeot 206 WRC, 15m02.2s


Harri Rovanpera (FIN)/Risto Pietilainen (FIN), Peugeot 206 WRC, 2hr31m09.9s
Tommi Makinen (FIN)/Risto Mannisenmaki(FIN), Mitsubishi Lancer*, +5.8s
Thomas Radstrom (S)/Tina Thorner (S), Mitsubishi Carisma GT*, +9.6s
Carlos Sainz (E)/Luis Moya(E), Ford Focus RS WRC*, +27.7s
Francois Delecour (F)/Daniel Grataloup (F), Ford Focus RS WRC, +1m16.3s
Didier Auriol(F)/Denis Giraudet(F), Peugeot 206 WRC*, +1m26.7s

*denotes nominated for manufacturers' championship points