Estonian Markko Martin drove his Ford into a commanding lead in the Acropolis Rally after Friday's opening leg. Martin set the pace on three of the day's six stages and ended the leg with a 50.7 seconds advantage over Belgian Freddy Loix as he lived up to his billing as a star of the future.
The 26-year-old has never won a World Rally Championship event, but is on course to upset the form book after he admitted the opening day had been relatively comfortable for him.
"I'm feeling really relaxed and enjoying it," Martin said. "The car feels so easy to drive it's like a computer game. We made the perfect start and we have not looked back since. It's been a benefit for us to be further down the running order because the earlier cars are clearing the loose gravel."
Hyundai driver Loix was quickest on the day's third stage, 'Peleohori', and his consistent performance on the gravel roads earned him second place overnight. Scot Colin McRae ended the day third overall despite being hampered by overheating brakes on his Ford Focus and also stalling his car. Finn Harri Rovanpera, of Peugeot, is a place further back. Ford's third driver Spaniard Carlos Sainz is fifth, with reigning world champion Briton Richard Burns sixth for Peugeot after a rollercoaster day.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
