SS19, Moksi-Leutsu: Burns heats up

Burns and McRae are both fighting for third place overall on the Finnish event behind local men Marcus Gronholmn and Harri Rovanpera. But the Subaru star says he is not prepared to sit back and settle for third.

"I don't want to finish in third place," said Burns after completing the 40.84km Moksi-Leistu stage five and a half seconds ahead of McRae.

However, Ford ace McRae, who lies second in the championship 10 points behind Tommi Makinen, is less concerned with moving up the leaderboard. Despite being the man closest to Burns' searing pace on the day's opening test, the Scot is not going to take any risks.

"We'll let him [Burns] go," said McRae. "There's no point in fighting with him when he's driving at that speed. I've got more to lose than him. I'll just stick where I am."

Overall leader Gronholm was next up, setting the third fastest time in his Peugeot 206 WRC almost 10 seconds behind Burns. McRae's Ford team mate Carlos Sainz was fourth almost 17 seconds behind, with the Spaniard complaining of loose stones on the road.

Peugeot ace Rovanpera finished fifth and lost 17.9s to Burns, which leaves the Finn just 6.2s away from losing his second place to the Brit.

Markko Martin finished sixth in the second Subaru Impreza, just ahead of Sebastian Lindholm in seventh, who had chosen a slightly harder compound tyre for his privateer Peugeot.

Petter Solberg was eighth fastest to hold the same position overall and keep three Impreza WRCs in the top 10. The Norwegian complained of worsening conditions.

"It's ok, but it's just very, very rough," said Solberg. "The car stepped out a bit in the corners, but nothing special."

With the ruts and bumps increasing, so too did the problems. Alister McRae was forced to stop and change a wheel on his Hyundai, costing the Scot three minutes and five places on the leaderboard leaving him 15th, while Francois Delecour was forced to retire when his Focus WRC lost fuel pressure 4km before the start.

For SS19, Moksi-Leutsu results, click here.

For full live timings table click here.

For full entry list click here.

For the itinerary click here.