Gronholm on track for another win

FINLAND’S Marcus Gronholm is already looking a strong contender for a third Swedish Rally victory in four years, having mastered the icy conditions with almost nonchalant ease.

With temperatures hovering around 10 degrees below freezing, the reigning world champion was setting the stages alight in his Peugeot.

He ended the first full day with a 27-second lead over compatriot Tommi Makinen, with England's Richard Burns third, 30.8secs adrift.

Harri Rovanpera, Juuso Pykalisto and Toni Gardemeister followed, meaning Finns took up five of the leading six positions.

Although he was largely untroubled, Gronholm's heart was in his mouth after yesterday's penultimate test. Ford's young Belgian driver, Francois Duval, went off the road three kilometres from the end of the stage and broke both front struts, leaving him stranded, with his car partly blocking the stage.

Following cars had to slow to find a way past Duval's Ford Focus and all but five drivers were either badly delayed or did not actually start the stage.

"I hoped that the organisers would cancel the stage," Gronholm said as he reflected on potentially losing over 15 minutes to the cars that had completed the stage ahead of Duval.

"If they hadn't, then I would have lost the rally right there."

The stewards eventually decided that the sensible move was to cancel the stage and so Gronholm's lead remains intact going into tomorrow's second leg.

Colin McRae's day began badly when the Scot spun his Citroen on almost the first corner of the second stage.

"It was a late call on the pace notes from co-driver Derek Ringer and I had no way to avoid spinning the car as I was too fast into the bend," he explained. "Our position of running second on the road today hasn't been ideal.

"There's not a lot of loose snow but it's enough to cost you time compared with the cars behind.

"We'll have to do our best to make sure we score some points."

McRae's error means that, when the start order for the first 15 cars is reversed for the second leg, he is expected to be starting early on the road once again.

He finished the day in 13th position, one and a half minutes adrift of Gronholm.

Burns had a far better first day even though he has frequently suggested that his car's differential set-up is not quite to his liking in the icy conditions.

Early brake problems also contributed to his performance. Today's leg will again see six stages, including a repeat of the longest test, and ends with a second run over the short super special sprint at Hagfors.