Motorsport: McRae climbs his way to the top of the Acropolis

Mounting a strong attack on the sixth and final stage of leg one, Colin McRae powered his way to the top of the leaderboard in the Acropolis Raly, the seventh round of the World Rally Championship.

In fact, it’s a Ford 1-2 at the end of the first of three days with Carlos Sainz finishing the day 21.1 seconds adrift.

Subaru dominated the opening exchanges with Richard Burns taking the lead on the first of the day's six stages.

Then, Petter Solberg went in front and for the third time in as many stages, Markko Martin kept the Subarus in front.

Solberg regained the lead - heading Martin by 5.4 seconds as the crews finished the day's fourth stage.

The stage claimed another Subaru driver, Toshihiro Arai - a fire beneath the bonnet spelt the end.

Didier Auriol succumbed with clutch problems.

Vast numbers of spectators lined the route for the fifth stage but they were disappointed when the organisers decided it was unsafe to run the stage.

The day's final stage, a repeat of the opening stage, witnessed a devastating performance from McRae who was almost ten seconds faster than Sainz.

In overall terms, it gave him that 21.1sec overnight advantage over his team mate with Burns also well placed in third, a further 11. 5 seconds down.

The earlier efforts of Martin and Solberg helped them maintain fourth and fifth respectively with the Peugeot of Gilles Panizzi occupying sixth position.

Freddy Loix (Mitsubishi), Harri Rovanpera (Peugeot) Tommi Makinen and Armin Schwarz (Skoda) complete the top ten.

Francois Delecour is forcing his way back into the top ten.

He continues to climb up the leaderboard after he lost time with a first stage puncture.

Prior to the rally the Frenchman sprained his wrist when he fell off his mountain bike.

Ireland's, Niall McShea (Ford Foucs) is 55th. overall and 15th. in the FIA Super 1600 series.