Ford: Gronholm's car had sensor fault.

The BP Ford World Rally team have confirmed that Marcus Gronholm had a technical problem on the second loop of the Rally Mexico which meant he didn't have all the power he should have had.

Speaking at the end of the leg, team boss, Malcolm Wilson noted that they diagnosed a temperature sensor fault on Gronholm's car in the final service. "It means Marcus hasn't had full performance from the engine this afternoon," he confirmed.

The news will come as a relief to Gronholm, who was at a loss to explain why he couldn't make up more time in the afternoon.

Indeed while the Finn knew he would lose out on the first loop, as he was running first on the road and had to 'sweep' away the loose gravel, he was unable to do much better in the afternoon, when the tests were cleaner. As such he ended the leg fifth overall, some 40 seconds off the lead - and around 15 seconds off his team-mate, Mikko Hirvonen, who jumped up from sixth to third after the repeat runs.

"It wasn't such a good day but I don't really know why," he reflected, before news of the sensor fault was known. "It wasn't great to be first on the road this morning because there was no line to follow and it was hard to find the braking points. But I also lost time this afternoon and I don't know why.

"Mikko and Seb had a wider tyre but I'm not sure it's just that. I will have to start again tomorrow morning and see what I can do with a better road position."

Hirvonen in contrast was happy and is now looking forward to trying to overhaul Chris Atkinson for second. With less than 4 seconds between them there's everything to fight for. He's aware though that with Dani Sordo and Gronholm not far behind, in fourth and fifth, he will have to keep an eye on there times too.

"I found my rhythm more this afternoon and made a good tyre choice. It's a good fight for second and I have many drivers, including Marcus, close behind me so I need to watch out. It is an enjoyable rally to drive as they are great roads, but there are plenty of rocks.

"I made the set-up stiffer this afternoon which was a good choice, but I may go back to softer settings in the morning. The car needs to be stiffer when there is a clean line because you need to be more precise. Tomorrow's stages aren't so fast but they will be looser so my start position is very good," he added.