SS6, Ste Maria Sicche II: Puras again

Puras's Citroen Xsara WRC blasted through Leg 2's first test - a repeat of Friday's 36.73km epic - in 23m38.2s. Didier Auriol's 206 WRC was second, with Sanremo winner Gilles Panizzi taking third fastest time in his Peugeot.

Auriol's time puts him into joint second overall, tying with Panizzi. Both men are just 14.2s behind Puras with another seven Saturday stages to go.

Marcus Gronholm's Peugeot remains best of the non-French best in fourth, but he is beginning to come under increasing pressure from Petter Solberg's Subaru in fifth. The Norwegian has proved a revelation so far and set fourth best time on SS6, just 8.8s off the pace of the flying Puras.

None of the realistic world title contenders is in a scoring position yet, but a seventh best time for Richard Burns has hoisted the Subaru driver to eighth overall - demoting Colin McRae in the process.

The skies over Corsica are beginning to cloud over and it looks at least partly likely that rain showers could fall on at least one of the remaining morning stages. Light rain was beginning to fall at Ajaccio service as the lead cars began to stream in.

For full times from SS6, click here.

For full rally live timings, click here.

For rally itinerary, click here.

For full entry list, click here.