Motorsport: McRae - I have to be cautious

Cautious Colin McRae will take the softly, softly approach this morning when he resumes his Monte Carlo Rally challenge.

The 33-year-old Scot will start the second day in third spot just under 45 seconds adrift of France’s new rally sensation Sebastien Loeb with Tommi Makinen in second spot.

But instead of the trademark gung-ho style - which cost him dear in last year’s title decider in Britain when he crashed out - McRae will be more circumspect in the French Alps knowing any points could prove vital at the end of the campaign.

‘‘I have to be cautious because it is so easy to throw away a good position,’’ said the Ford Focus driver.

‘‘Experience makes no difference. Tommi and I can be caught out just as easily as a young guy like Sebastien.’’

Makinen, who is over 36secs behind Citroen rival Loeb, is chasing a record four successive wins on the famous rally and, like McRae, knows victory would also make him the most successful driver of all time. They both have 23 wins.

But both face a difficult task overhauling 27-year-old Loeb, who showed why he won the World Junior title last year after snatching the lead with blistering displays on the final two stages yesterday.

Loeb’s main threat may be the reliability of his Citroen car team-mates Thomas Radstrom and Philippe Bugalski both failed to make it to the first stage yesterday morning.

McRae’s fellow Brit Richard Burns, who snatched the world title at his expense, will also be hoping for a points finish after battling his way back to seventh following a difficult opening to the defence of his championship crown.

The 31-year-old’s first outing in the Peugeot almost ended on the first stage when the 206 landed heavily after a jump with the impact forcing him off the road though Burns managed to keep the car going.

‘‘It was an interesting day,’’ admitted the former Subaru driver who will be looking to progress in today’s six stages. ‘‘The ‘off’ on the opening stage wasn’t ideal but, in truth, I’ve been learning more on every stage.

‘‘I’m very happy because we’re doing respectable times and I know there is a lot more to come from me and the car.’’

Burns is over one minute 46secs behind Loeb with team-mate Marcus Gronholm fourth, Spain’s Carlos Sainz is fifth in the other Ford and Norway’s Petter Solberg sixth for Subaru. Alister McRae is currently 12th on his Mitsubishi bow.

Organisers were forced to cancel one of yesterday’s stages because of too many spectators as the crackdown on safety begins following last November’s Rally of Great Britain, where 13 people were injured.