SS7: Latvala takes the win

The first stage of day two goes to Jari-Matti Latvala. Latvala, who had a day to forget yesterday, came through the opening test a comfortable 4.4 seconds over his nearest rival, Marcus Gronholm. Latvala, though is still mired way down the overall times table, and will need a major push over the next two days to earn valuable manufacturers' points for his Stobart team. Gronholm was followed at stage's end by Sebastien Loeb in third, a further 6.1 seconds back. The Finn retains second overall behind Mikko Hirvonen, and just ahead of third overall, Loeb.

Hirvonen was fourth on the opening stage, 2.3 seconds behind Loeb. His fall from stage dominance was merely due to the tricky nature of the stage and nothing concerning his Ford Focus RS. Dani Sordo took fifth on the stage, an additional 2.8 seconds behind Hirvonen. Sordo remains locked in fifth overall. Xevi Pons had a good stage, finishing sixth at the end, just 0.2 seconds behind Sordo. Pons has now moved to within 9.3 seconds of Manfred Stohl in the final drivers' points position spot of eighth overall. Seventh on stage went to Chris Atkinson. The Subaru driver has now moved ahead of Matthew Wilson into sixth overall by just two seconds. Henning Solberg was eighth on the stage, a further 1.4 seconds behind Atkinson, but, like Latvala, well down the order after yesterday.

Petter Solberg was well off the pace on the first stage after spinning early into the test; he remains fourth overall, but is over a minute behind Loeb for the final podium spot.