SS14+15 stopped due to crowd trouble

The first of today's nine stages, the 23.02km Capilla Del Monte run, was stopped because fans were standing in dangerous places. All the major works cars had completed their runs, although the times will be discounted.

Then, SS15 was stopped because of further spectator trouble. Again, all the leading runners had completed the 9.06km San Marcos Sierra run. Marcus Gronholm, attempting to recover after losing a wheel and dropping two minutes yesterday, was fastest, and he will no doubt be feeling frustrated at a missed opportunity to regain some lost ground.

Ford boss Malcolm Wilson fears that the stage cancellation could prevent his driver Markko Martin, who currently lies second, trailing event leader Carlos Sainz by 22s. "It's a shame," he said. "In a way it's positive, because there's a huge volume of interest in the event, but in our situation - trying to make up time - the last thing we need is lost kilometres on the competitive sections."