SS15, Arganil 2: Sainz homes in on Makinen
Carlos Sainz has moved into striking distance of the lead of the Rally of Portugal after setting the fastest time on Special Stage 15, causing longtime event leader Tommi Makinen to look over his shoulder
The Spaniard's Ford Focus was 7.2secs faster than leader Makinen's Mitsubishi, leaving the Finn with a 16.7sec lead with seven stages remaining.
Subaru's Richard Burns has continued to claw back time from third placed Marcus Gronholm (Peugeot). The Englishman was 2.5secs quicker than the Finn through Arganil, leaving him with a 3.7sec deficit going into SS16.
SS15 accounted for Mitsubishi's Freddy Loix, who retired with clutch failure, allowing Ford's Francois Delecour to move up to fifth. Subaru's Markko Martin has also failed to emerge from the stage and has beached his Impreza on the enormous ruts that the cars ahead have gouged in the side of the road - he too is out.
Carlos Sainz, Ford, 11m15.0s
Tommi Makinen, Mitsubishi, 11m22.2s
Richard Burns, Subaru, 11m27.0s
Marcus Gronholm, Peugeot, 11m29.5s
Francois Delecour, Ford, 11m40.3s
Kenneth Eriksson, Hyundai, 11m48.7s
Tommi Makinen, Mitsubishi, 2h39m44.1s
Carlos Sainz, Ford, +16.7s
Marcus Gronholm, Peugeot, +2m21.4s
Richard Burns, Subaru, +2m25.1s
Francois Delecour, Ford, +6m07.3s
Alister McRae, Hyundai, +9m46.6s
Kenneth Eriksson, Hyundai, +10m08.0s
Tapio Laukkanen, Toyota, +12m51.9s
Didier Auriol, Peugeot, +13m00.2s
Daniel Carlsson, Toyota, +14m39.5s
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