SS3, Laukaa 1: Gronholm edges it

The world champion clocked a hellishly quick time - 6m06.6s - to take the overall lead of the rally. But Gronholm can't quite shake off the attentions of team mate Harri Rovanpera. His Peugeot 206 WRC was just three seconds back from Gronholm as the rally heads to its first service of the day at Paviljonki.

Markko Martin looks as though he is trying to prove a point. The Estonian was been passed over in recent rallies as Subaru golden boy, Petter Solberg, gets second driver status at the Banbury-based team. But on SS3, Martin was faster than both his team mates, setting the third fastest time and has moved to within two seconds of Richard Burns' fourth place overall on the leaderboard.

Martin is the only non-Scandinavian in the top six through Laukaa - although Estonia is just a hop across the Baltic - as Jani Paasonen heads a trio of Finns in fourth, proving just how valuable local knowledge is on this most specialised of WRC events. His Ford Focus was five seconds off Gronholm's time, and compatriots Juuso Pykalisto (Toyota Corolla) and Sebastian Lindholm (Peugeot 206) lock out the top six times.

Didier Auriol leads the best of the rest with the seventh fastest time, followed by the remaining Subarus of Richard Burns and Petter Solberg.

For SS3, Laukaa 1, results, click here.

For full live timings table click here.

For full entry list click here.

For the itinerary click here.