World Rally Championship rivals Mikko Hirvonen and Sebastien Loeb enjoyed a thrilling battle for the lead on the first full day of the Rally of Finland.

World rally champion Sebastien Loeb is hoping the challenging conditions expected in this weekend’s Swedish Rally do not prove to be his undoing.

Marcus Gronholm continued his personal domination of the Rally of Finland with a superb performance today.

Richard Burns lost the lead of the Rally of Finland after being caught out by a high-speed jump.