SS6, Vallfogona 2: Bugalski again...

With world champion Marcus Gronholm out of the event, the remaining Peugeots of Didier Auriol and Gilles Panizzi continued to take the fight to their PSA rivals, but had to settle for third and fourth, with Auriol just one second ahead of Panizzi, which translated into the same positions overall.

Mitsubishi driver Tommi Makinen put in a star performance to stay within seconds of the Citroens and Peugeots, but even the four-time world champion's efforts were not enough to break the French manufacturers' stranglehold on the top. The Finn finished fifth on the 15.8km test and takes the same spot overall.

Markko Martin put in a blistering time to go sixth fastest, only one place ahead of his Subaru team mate Richard Burns, who after gearbox problems and a broken wheel rim stays 13th overall.

The second Mitsubishi of Belgian Freddy Loix came home eighth, 0.7s ahead of the the Skoda of Bruno Thiry.

Ford's dismal form on this, the first full asphalt event of the year, continues to go from bad to worse. With McRae out on the previous stage, blighted by fuel pressure problems, Carlos Sainz took 12th spot on SS6 to put the Spaniard in ninth place overall.


Philippe Bugalski, Citroen, 9m19.3
Jesus Puras, Citroen, 9m20.2s
Didier Auriol, Peugeot, 9m24.0s
Gilles Panizzi, Peugeot, 9m25.0s
Tommi Makinen, Mitsubishi, 9m26.8s
Markko Martin, Subaru, 9m32.8s



Jesus Puras, Citroen, 1h02m.44.9s
Philippe Bugalski, Citroen, +8.7s
Didier Auriol, Peugeot, +11.2s
Gilles Panizzi, Peugeot, +18.5s
Tommi Makinen, Mitsubishi, +24.1s
Freddy Loix, Mitsubishi, +51.5s
Salvador Canellas, Seat, +1m03.9s
Francois Delecour, Ford, +1m07.9s
Carlos Sainz, Ford, +1m11.5s
Markko Martin, Subaru, +1m20.2s