SS21, Ridge 2: McRae keeps trying

McRae lies second overall and managed to shave another 0.6s off Burns' lead. But with only three stages to run, the Subaru star is still 15.5s ahead and McRae will have to push yet harder still if he is to take his fourth win of the year.

Didier Auriol reinforced the pace of the Peugeots by joining team mate Gronholm in the top three on the day's second running of the short 8.53km Ridge stage.

But the Frenchman was closely followed by the Ford of Carlos Sainz, who after fixing his puncture from the previous stage finished just 0.1s behind.

Francois Delecour came home fifth in the third Focus WRC while Subaru team mates Burns and Petter Solberg hustled their Impreza WRCs through in exactly the same time of 4m44.0s to take equal sixth.

Harri Rovanpera set the eighth fastest time and must up his pace if he is to improve on fourth overall. The Finn is just 4.9s behind Sainz in third.

The cars now head almost immediately for a second running of the slightly shorter Campbell stage.

For SS21, Ridge 2 results, click here.

For full live timings table click here.

For full entry list click here.

For the itinerary click here.