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Neste Rally of Finland: End of Leg 2

23 August 1999

End of Leg 2

Juha Kankkunen leads his home event, but only just. Carlos Sainz is only 10 seconds behind and Burns another 6 seconds. Overnight leader, Marcus Gronholm slipped to 4th as a result of being first on the road and clearing the road surface for those who followed. He also incurred a 50 second penalty after a hydraulics problem.

Tommi Makinen retired today on SS14 with tranmission problems while only 8 seconds behind the leader. The car is repairable and Makinen will compete for championship points in tomorrow's live TV stage. "It's a big disappointment of course and it is very unusual, because normally our car is so reliable. But things could be much worse and we can try our best to score points tomorrow," Makinen stated. Team mate Fast Freddy Loix rolled on SS14 and are in 14th at the end of the Leg.

Today's best performance was from Carlos Sainz in the Toyota Corolla who clawed up to 2nd position. "I am really happy with the way things have gone today" said Sainz, "We have been flat out all day because theres no other way to drive, especially against the locals on their home event."

Team mate Didier Auriol did not share the same fortune and has struggled with a bad handling car. "The whole day has been really frustrating - the way I drive the car I need to have it absolutely precise, if not it badly affects me" said Auriol.

Colin McRae moved up to fourth position with 3 stage wins. "Ive been feeling better about this event and my car all day," enthused McRae. "The Focus has been working really well on its altered suspension settings and its been my own lack of experience on these roads which has cost the odd second here and there. Radstrom was fourth last night in the second Focus but crashed today and slipped to 22nd.

Desipte losing 30 seconds after hitting a rock, Rovanpera finished today in 6th. "It was a very hard day and I drove as fast as possible. The SEAT Cordoba has worked perfectly."

Rising star Toni Gardemeister set several top 3 stage times but also spun several times during the day. "Never in my life have I spun so many times in the same day! I'm annoyed because the SEAT Cordoba is working fantastically well and our mid-stage times were nearly always the fastest.

There are six more stages tomorrow.

Conditions: some rain overnight but has been mostly clear today. Cloudy in the late afternoon and heavy rain as the cars return to the final service.

Provisional Results after Leg 2

1 Kankkunen Subaru Impreza 2:23:13,7
2 Sainz Toyota Corolla 2:23:23,7
3 Burns Subaru Impreza 2:23:29,7
4 McRae Ford Focus 2:24:11,0
5 Gronholm Peugeot 206 2:24:30,9
6 Rovanpera Seat Cordoba 2:25:00,5
7 Lindholm Ford Escort 2:26:16,0
8 Gardemeister Seat Cordoba 2:26:18,5
9 Auriol Toyota Corolla 2:26:28,0
10 Tuohino Ford Escort 2:29:23,3

Group N
1 Puhakka Mitsu Lancer 2:31:57,8
2 Passonen Mitsu Lancer 2:34:51,1
3 Stohl Mitsu Lancer 2:35:19,0

2-Litre
1 Laukkanen Renault Megane 2:32:05,9
2 Kytolehto Vauxhall Astra 2:33:31,5
3 McRae Hyundai Coupe 2:35:59,0

Teams Cup
1 Isik Toyota Corolla 2:34:02.1
2 Dor Subaru Impreza 2:47:49.1

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