SS4: McRae takes Monte lead

Didier Auriol was not allowed to continue onto the day's fourth stage after the Frenchman finished SS3 on only three wheels, leaving the way clear for McRae to move into the top spot.

This is the Scotsman's first stage win of the event and gives the him a 10-second lead in the overall standings ahead of young Subaru star Petter Solberg, who could only manage fifth place on the second of the day's grooved-slick tyre stages.

Burns' second place on the stage moves the Englishman firmly inside the top ten in sixth place just over a minute behind his hotshoe Subaru team mate.

Four time World Rally Champion Tommi Makinen set the third fastest time on the St Pierre - Entrevaux section to move the Finn up into third overall.

Alister McRae has taken 10th slot in his ever-improving Hyundai Accent WRC after setting exactly the same time as Ford's Francois Delecour to take equal eighth place on the stage.

The cars are currently at the second service area of the day and SS5 Comps Castellane starts at 1545 GMT.


3 Colin McRae (Ford) 22m10.4s
5 Richard Burns (Subaru) 22m17.9s
6 Tommi Makinen (Mitsubishi) 22m23.7s
4 Carlos Sainz (Ford) 22m23.8s
2 Petter Solberg (Subaru) 22m33.1s
6 Toni Gardemeister (Peugeot) 22m35.1s


1 Colin McRae (Ford) 1h28m14.2s
2 Petter Solberg (Subaru) 1h28m24.8s
3 Tommi Makinen (Mitsubishi) 1h28m34.2s
4 Carlos Sainz (Ford) 1h28m56.0s
5 Franois Delecour (Ford) 1h29m09.6s
6 Richard Burns (Subaru) 1h29m31.4s
7 Freddi Loix (Mitsubishi) 1h29m33.6s
8 Olivier Burri (Toyota) 1h29m42.2s
9 Armin Schwarz (Skoda) 1h29m47.0s
10 Alister McRae (Hyundai) 1h30m00.0s