Scotsman Colin McRae won the ultra-tough Acropolis Rally in a Ford Focus after his Spanish team-mate Carlos Sainz stopped for two minutes to let him pass just 50 metres from the flag. Ford team director Malcolm Wilson had issued strict orders that the two drivers should hold their overnight positions.
Following Wilson's orders McRae had said he would ease off for the final two stages and concentrate on not making any mistakes. Three-time Acropolis winner Sainz abided by his instructions but the manner in which he did this will surely have underlined his feelings on the matter. McRae clocked four hours 56 minutes 54.8 seconds after the 19 special stages, with Sainz 23.1 seconds behind and Finland's Juha Kankkunen 6mins 38.3secs back.
The victory lifted McRae up to joint-second place in the overall standings 14 points behind Englishman Richard Burns, who was forced to retire earlier in the day. Subaru driver Burns, who won the Greek event last year, broke his turbo-charger during the 13th stage.
