STOP PRESS! Gronholm out; now McRae's stuck!

Gronholm set the fastest time on the first stage of the event this morning in his Peugeot 206 WRC and was leading by 3.9s from Burns in a Subaru. Midway through the day's second stage, the 33-year-old began to experience problems with steam pouring from the Peugeot's engine.

Marcus refilled the radiator with water at the end of the stage and proceeded to SS3, but the problem persisted and he slowed on the 12.78 km Bogen section. Although the Finn was able to limp to the end of the stage the Peugeot refused to go any further.

Gronholm was forced to retire on the second leg of the Monte Carlo Rally three weeks ago with water pump failure, but it is not yet known whether today's engine failure is associated with the same problem.

Meanwhile McRae lost control of his Ford Focus WRC on the same stage and became stranded on a snow bank. Co-driver Nicky Grist had to dig the car out, but the pair lost almost six minutes and effectively any chance of victory.