Rallying: Martin seizes advantage

The ford driver, Markko Martin, is on course to win his first World Rally Championship event. Martin has led the Acropolis Rally from the start and takes a lead of 50.7 seconds into today's second leg, an advantage he will need if he is to overcome the disadvantage of running 15th on the road when the leaderboard is reverse seeded.

However, while he is further down the order, the Estonian driver may also find the roads swept clear of the power-sapping dust that has blighted the progress of other drivers.

Britain's world champion Richard Burns, in the Peugeot, said: "The surface is very slippery and too smooth for those at the front. Running further back is a definite advantage."

As Martin drove unhindered at the front of the field, his Scottish team-mate Colin McRae has been climbing the leaderboard and lies in third.

The only major retirement came on the final stage when Tommi Makinen's Subaru first lost power-steering and then a wheel, leaving the Finn with no choice but to retire.