SS21: McRae wins

After extending his lead on the previous stage, it was always going to be a tall order for Burns to take the lead and despite clawing away at McRae during the morning stages, the Subaru star had to be content with just six world championship points, to McRae's 10.

"I'm glad that's over," said McRae, "wins like that are harder after such a big gap. I think my drive here has been very good. To lead from the start and finally clinch it like we did today was great. Richard was a pretty tough competitor. It was a bit like having Tommi Makinen behind me."

McRae set the fastest time on the gruelling SS21 El Condor test just 0.1s ahead of the Mitsubishi of Tommi Makinen who despite a late charge today was unable to make up lost ground to the top three and finished fourth overall.

Burns came home equal third on the 16.77km test after amazingly setting exactly the same time as Francois Delecour who wound up seventh overall.

Carlos Sainz finished fifth on the final stage to complete an excellent drive for third place after back pain has thwarted the Spaniard throughout the three-day event.

Petter Solberg maintained his steady pace and fifth fastest time on the stage was more than enough to ensure the Norwegian held onto his fifth place overall.

Freddy Loix was demoted into seventh place on SS21 by the Subaru of Toshio Arai, but Belgian Loix rounded out the top six in the overall standings to take the final point scoring position.

Full Rally Report to follow.