SS8, Vero-Pont 1: McRae fastest
Damp conditions and the retirement of Peugeot star Marcus Gronholm played into Colin McRae's hands on SS8, Vero-Pont 1. The Scot's Pirelli-shod Ford finished the test fastest by 10.9s and inherited seventh overall - just one place shy of a world championship point
Didier Auriol finished the stage second fastest, with McRae's team mate Francois Delecour in third. But behind them, some lesser lights packed the places at the tail of the top six.
Asphalt ace Piero Liatti exploited the changing conditions to take fourth in his Hyundai, while privateer Neil Wearden posted equal fifth fastest time. The Briton's Grifone-run Peugeot shared the spot with factory driver Gilles Panizzi.
Seventh fastest was the second of the Hyundais, that of Alister McRae, with rally leader Jesus Puras a distant eighth for Citroen after losing out in the conditions.
Puras finished the stage some 24.1s behind McRae and saw his lead over Panizzi reduced to just 8.7s, with Auriol a further 17.1s adrift.
Petter Solberg has moved to fourth overall with Gronholm's retirement, with Delecour and Subaru driver Markko Martin completing the top six overall.
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.
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