SS2, Helena North I: Gronholm leads

The defending world champion completed the test in his Peugeot 206 WRC in 13m43.6sec to take overall lead of the rally.

Joint championship leader Colin McRae was second fastest through Helena North, five seconds slower than Gronholm. But the Scot has to settle for third overall after the second Peugeot of Harri Rovanpera finished just behind McRae on the stage, but nicked ahead of him on the leaderboard thanks to the Finn's time on the Super Special last night.

Peugeot-bound Richard Burns was next up with the fourth fastest time in his Subaru Impreza, followed by the man who is just behind him in the standings, Ford's Carlos Sainz.

Didier Auriol, passed over by Peugeot in favour of Rovanpera to score manufacturers' points in Australia, rounded out the top six, with a time 10 seconds slower than team mate Gronholm.

Tommi Makinen, making confident noises about his new Mitsubishi Lancer WRC on its gravel debut, was seventh fastest, followed by Petter Solberg's Subaru. Gilles Panizzi again proved he is not just a Tarmac specialist after setting the ninth fastest time and Makinen's team mate Freddy Loix completes the top 10 after SS2.

For full times from SS2, click here.

For full rally live timings, click here.

For rally itinerary, click here.

For full entry list, click here.