Miettinen heads Group N.

Mitsubishi Motors drivers have continued to dominate the Production Class in the second leg of Rally Finland, the sixth round of the 2002 FIA Production Car World Rally Championship.

Jarkko Miettinen, one of Finland's rising stars, has built up a useful lead in his Mitsubishi Carisma GT, while Italy's Alex Fiorio, third, is the best of the world title contenders in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.

Miettinen heads Group N.

Mitsubishi Motors drivers have continued to dominate the Production Class in the second leg of Rally Finland, the sixth round of the 2002 FIA Production Car World Rally Championship.

Jarkko Miettinen, one of Finland's rising stars, has built up a useful lead in his Mitsubishi Carisma GT, while Italy's Alex Fiorio, third, is the best of the world title contenders in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.

In a telling display of speed and reliability, Mitsubishi drivers hold nine of the first ten places in the category.

The rally didn't start well for Championship contender Fiorio, who hasn't competed in Finland for years and didn't get a chance to test, but the Italian has stuck to the task in his Lancer Evolution and persistence has been rewarded.

"Now we have quite a good lead over the other World Championship drivers and the car is handling better after we made a few changes. It will be fantastic if we can get maximum points here," Fiorio said.

Finn Kristian Sohlberg is second of the Championship runners in his Lancer Evolution, just under two minutes behind Fiorio.

"It's been quite rough today and it's been easy to damage the car. I know we can go faster than Fiorio, but I don't know if we can catch him. We have to try," Sohlberg admitted.

Jarkko Miettinen has taken the challenge in his stride. It is only the second time he has contested the event, but he has made the most of his Carisma GT to pull a minute clear of his rivals.

"Yesterday we were just cruising and avoiding the rocks. Today we are attacking and it has gone very well. I just hope it goes on like this tomorrow," Miettinen said.

Swede Oscar Svedlund holds second overall in his Carisma GT, with early leader Juha Hellman fourth, between Fiorio and Sohlberg.

Overall Group N after SS16 - Leg two:

1.Jarkko MiettinenMitsubishi Lancer Evo VI2hours 49mins 51.7secs2.Oscar SvedlundMitsubishi Lancer Evo VI+00mins 56.5secs3.Alessandro FiorioMitsubishi Lancer Evo VII+02mins 14.6secs4.Juha HellmanMitsubishi Lancer Evo VI+03mins 28.5secs5.Kristian SohlbergMitsubishi Lancer Evo VII+03mins 53.9secs6.Teemu LaatunenMitsubishi Lancer Evo VII+05mins 29.3secs7.Karamjit SinghProton Pert+05mins 46.8secs8.Alfredo de DominicisMitsubishi Lancer Evo VII+07mins 39.0secs9.Bernt KollevoldMitsubishi Lancer Evo VI+08mins 22.5secs10.Saulius GirdauskasMitsubishi Lancer Evo VI+08mins 45.6secs

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