Martin out, Ford's hopes of victory end.

Just 39 of the original 78 starters left Villa Carlos Paz this morning for an extended third and final leg of this fifth round of the FIA World Rally Championship.

After yesterday's special stage cancellations, organisers have added two of the scrubbed speed tests to today's itinerary, almost doubling the scheduled 59.90km of competition to 105.49km.

The action began with two long stages close to the small town of San Marcos Sierra but the opening 23.02km test from Capilla del Monte to San Marcos Sierra brought an end to the victory hopes of Ford Rallye Sport's Markko Martin and Michael Park. Leading overnight in the new Focus RS World Rally Car by 15.2sec, the Ford pairing stopped 11.4km into the test having lost all oil pressure in the engine. Retirement was instant and the four-car battle for victory was down to three.

Team director Malcolm Wilson admitted his disappointment but said the Focus' performance was again hugely encouraging. "We were buoyant this morning but I've always said we would target the next rally in Greece as our first real chance of victory with the new car. Markko's first win will come but the great thing is that so many of our rivals have taken the trouble to come and say how good the car is," he said.

Team-mates Francois Duval and Stephane Prevot also endured a troubled start to the day in their similar Focus RS. The Belgian pairing lost fourth, fifth and sixth gears in the opening stage and then had to tackle the next test with just first and second. They lost about 4min 30sec and dropped to ninth, but still remain in a manufacturer points-scoring position.

"About 6km after the start of the first stage we lost sixth gear and then fifth and fourth also went as the test went on," said Duval. "As we accelerated away from the start of the next stage third gear disappeared so we had to drive for 22km with just first and second. Everything was very hot but we managed to get through and get back to service." The team fitted a new gearbox in the service park.

In contrast to their Ford Rallye Sport team-mates, Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen enjoyed a 'perfect' morning in their Focus RS. The Finns were sixth and fifth fastest through the stages, their best performance of the rally.

"I've really enjoyed this morning, it's been a perfect start," said Hirvonen. "I didn't push that hard but we still set great times. There were a few big stones in the road but conditions weren't so bad. Now we'll concentrate on perfecting our pace notes through the final three stages."

Missing from the action this morning was Tommi M?kinen [Subaru], who was withdrawn late last night after his first day problems left him with no chance of a points finish. The Finn will now rush home to see his new son, born while he was in Argentina.