The Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart crew of Tommi Makinen and Risto Mannisenmaki hold a close fourth position at the end of the second day of the Rally of Great Britain. Mitsubishi Motors driver Manfred Stohl returned to Cardiff this evening still leading the Group N production car category in his Mitsubishi Carisma GT. The Austrian has nearly three minutes in hand to Kenneth Backlund and is in fine shape to claim his first-ever World title tomorrow.

Of the original 150 starters, 118 crews crossed the start ramp early this morning in Cardiff, damp but mild four degree temperatures again greeting them as they headed west of the city for today’s six special stages in south Wales. The forecasted rain and high winds failed to materialise until later this afternoon, but nevertheless Britain’s recent wet wintry weather has ensured the forestry stages remain treacherously muddy and unpredictable. It will however take more than that to deter the fanatical supporters who have poured into the stages in their thousands to cheer on their local heroes and witness the fight for victory and the World Championship go down to the wire

As rally leader Colin McRae rolled out of the event, Championship rivals Marcus Gronholm and Richard Burns found themselves at the head of the leaderboard, the Peugeot and Subaru drivers all too aware of the implications of one single mistake. Behind them, Tommi Makinen and Ford’s Carlos Sainz have been locked in a fierce battle, trading times for third and the final podium position. With ever-changing weather, conditions have been tricky today and Makinen, like a lot of the leading crews, has had his share of ’moments’.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart T. Makinen / R. Mannisenmaki

"We had a couple of problems in the opening two stages", commented Tommi. "In the first one, the radio filter box came loose under my legs and then we went off the road in the next stage. After about ten kilometres we slid wide, spun, hit a tree and damaged the intercooler".

Undeterred, the Finn went into Resolfen, one of the famous Welsh stages and the longest in the rally, determined to improve on his position, but was again caught out on the treacherous roads. "We tried to push very hard, but immediately we went straight on at the first tight right corner. We just slid off into the bushes and fortunately there was no damage. It was very muddy and we were braking quite late, but there was no grip at all. Then, at another junction, we made a spin and I had to reverse and start again. It was a difficult stage for me as I haven’t done it before", added the Finn, referring to previous Rally of Great Britain retirements.

After the final super special stage run in darkness back in Cardiff, Burns heads Gronholm and Ford’s Carlos Sainz and Makinen are split by a mere three-tenths of a second and have everything to fight for tomorrow. "We’re been trying a bit too hard today", concluded Tommi. "It’s better to make a few mistakes and keep going though, than to make a big mistake and retire. Tomorrow we hope to catch Carlos and finish in at least third position".

Mitsubishi Carisma GT Gr.N M. Stohl / P. Muller