Colin McRae is on course to complete a hat-trick of Acropolis Rally victories after his Ford team-mate Markko Martin saw his hopes shattered in a costly accident this afternoon. Estonian Martin drove over a rock which ripped a giant hole in a tyre on the longest stage of the rally and fell from first to ninth, ahead of tomorrow's final day. McRae took advantage to lie 32.6 seconds clear and on course for his third successive Greek win.
The Scot admitted: "We're in pole position now. But there's a long way still to go. Tomorrow's roads are very rough and it is always easy to have a problem on this rally. No matter what our lead may be, we won't be comfortable until the rally is over."
McRae has gradually eased clear of arch rival Richard Burns, of the Peugeot team, while the reigning world champion is now coming under pressure from his Finnish team-mate Marcus Gronholm who is a further 9.7secs adrift. But the Finn has held the upper hand over the past few stages.
The battle for victory appears to be between Burns, McRae and Gronholm, but Ford's Spanish driver Carlos Sainz is poised in fourth to take advantage of any slip-ups. Martin starts tomorrow's 13th stage two minutes and 21.8 seconds off McRae's pace - far from the position he had earlier expected.
Filed by Shane Murray
