SS8, Trawscoed 1: Harri to the fore

Through the fog and darkness of SS8, the demanding 26.26km Trawscoed 1 test, Rovanpera was quickest and headed Burns by 3.1secs. The Finn has grabbed third from Peugeot team mate Didier Auriol and is just 15.8secs behind second placed Burns.

"I'm going fast when I can, but I'm having to slow down for the fog," said Burns.

At the end of Leg One, Gronholm leads Burns by 36.6secs, even though he was only third quickest through Trawscoed after running perilously wide at the very first corner.

Both Carlos Sainz (Ford) and Didier Auriol (Peugeot) didn't get on with the foggy conditions of the stage. Sainz went off and was 55secs off Rovanpera's pace, while Auriol was a whole 1m29.7s in arrears after a time-consuming spin on a right-hander. He suspects he may have broken something on the right-rear of his Pug: "I hate fog," he snarled.

Auriol ends the day fourth, 16.9secs ahead of Sainz who, despite his off, has fought back well after encountering puncture-inspired brake problems earlier in the day.

After a poor SS7, Alister McRae (Hyundai) bounced back with an excellent time on SS8, grabbing back a big chunk of time he had lost to Sainz. The Scot was fourth quickest through the stage and ends the day in sixth, just 10secs behind the Spaniard.

England's Mark Higgins was fifth quickest on the stage and lies seventh overall in his Ford Focus.

Roman Kresta, who was lying 12th, rolled his Skoda. The Czech is currently trying to get his car back on the stage, but time is against him.

For full times from SS8, click here.

For full rally live timings, click here.

For rally itinerary, click here.

For full entry list, click here.