Former world champion Tommi Makinen has a one-second lead over reigning champion Marcus Gronholm after the first day of action in the world rally championships in Portugal. Thursday's stage was very short - just a 3.2km purpose-built stage at Baltar - but the weather was particularly rough with plenty of heavy rainfall.
"The conditions were very, very bad so it was just a case of making a good time and getting through without a problem," said Makinen afterwards. The British drivers Richard Burns and Colin McRae were placed 7th and 20th respectively following yesterday's opening stage.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
