SS18, Te Akau: Sainz on the pace

Sainz, who lies third overall, completed the Te Akau South stage just 0.1s faster than Peugeot's Marcus Gronholm as the pair made the most of letting leaders Burns and McRae clear the way at the front.

Gronholm, in fact, was clearly flying and did well to come in second as the Finn contrived to spin his 206 WRC on the 31.24km test yet still managed to run Sainz close.

Burns' Subaru team mate Petter Solberg came home third fastest, but the Norwegian is still a lowly eighth overall. Didier Auriol was in fourth place just 5.8s behind Sainz. The top seven, which included both the McRae brothers, was covered by just over seven seconds.

Colin finished sixth while the Hyundai of younger brother Alistair was just one place ahead in fifth. The Mitsubishis of Tommi Makinen and Freddy Loix were ninth and 10th as Burns had to settle for 12th.

The cars now head to the first service of the third Leg, which is also the final service of the event before a sequence of five stages taking the drivers to the finish. Burns will have his fingers crossed that his 21.6s lead over McRae is enough.

For SS18, Te Akau South results, click here.

For full live timings table click here.

For full entry list click here.

For the itinerary click here.