World Rally News

Speaking at the service area after SS14 Tommi Makinen confessed his surprise at the speed of Rovanpera, who has extended his lead to 17.2secs over the Mitsubishi driver.

Thomas Radstrom has powered into second position after the group of two stages totalling 49 competitive kilometres. The Mitsubishi Carisma GT driver is now just 7.7 seconds adrift of the new leader of the Swedish Rally, Peugeot's Harri Rovanpera.

Stage times and overall standings after SS2. Top ten stage times for SS2

Stage times and overall standings after SS3. Top ten stage times for SS3

Peugeot Sports Director, Jean-Pierre Nicolas has said that Harri Rovanpera is capable of podium finishes in World Championship rallies this year.

Co-driver Ronan Morgan has announced that he is retiring from Rallying after 26 years. The Dubliner has had a highly successful partnership with ten-times Middle East Champion Mohammed Bin Sulayem and he has also co-driven with Russell Brookes, Billy Coleman, Mark Lovell and Tony Pond.

The championship winning Subaru Allstars team makes its first appearance of the 2001 rally season complete with a new car and new management.

Last weekend Hyundai Castrol Rally Team Norway driver Kristian Kolberg and co-driver Anders Dawidson brought their Hyundai Accent WRC to the finish of the Elverum Rally, the first round of the Norwegian Rally Championship, in third position.

Phil Short, one of World Rallying's most experienced managers, is to join the Ford Martini World Rally Team after stepping down as Mitsubishi Team Manager at the end of last season.

Bruno Thiry returned to competitive action for Skoda Motorsport on last weekend's Monte Carlo Rally and wasted no time scoring a point for the Czech marque in the FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers.

Bertie Fisher, the four times Irish Rally Champion, has died as a result of injuries he sustained in the helicopter crash which has already claimed the lives of two of his children.

Rising star Mark Fisher was killed yesterday [Sunday] in a helicopter crash that also claimed the life of his sister and seriously injured father Bertie.

Poor weather before the start of the Monte Carlo Rally had left a picturesque, yet treacherous, covering of snow over the higher mountain passes - making tyre choice a crucial element of success.

Colin McRae has retired from this year's Monte Carlo Rally after stopping on the first stage of the final leg.

Colin McRae and Nicky Grist's hopes of scoring the first British victory on the Monte Carlo Rally since 1968 ended in disappointment on the first special stage of today's third and final leg, handing the lead to Mitsubishi's Tommi Makinen.

With just two stages remaining, Skoda Motorsport driver Armin Schwarz holds a superb third place in the Monte Carlo Rally.

Stage times and overall standings after SS8. Stage Times for SS8

After encountering mechanical problems on his return to parc ferme, the Subaru World Rally Team has decided to withdraw Richard Burns before the start of day two of the Monte Carlo Rally.

Ford Martini driver Colin McRae led the Monte Carlo Rally at the close of today's opening leg after a dramatic day in the French Alps, which saw more retirements then during the whole of last years event - including all three factory Peugeot's.

Rally of Monte Carlo - Stage One. Stage times and overall standings after SS1

Rally of Monte Carlo - Stage Five. Stage times and overall standings after SS5

Following its titles in both the Drivers' and Manufacturers' championships in 1998, 1999 and 2000, Michelin revealed the tyres, that the company will take to Monte Carlo as it looks to extend its run of three consecutive "double crown" successes.

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart and RAND Worldwide have announced the establishment of a long-term partnership, with RAND Worldwide becoming the 'Official Engineering Software Partner' to the highly successful World Rally Team.

Subaru World Rally driver Richard Burns escaped unhurt today after hitting a lorry head-on during the recce for this weekend's Monte Carlo Rally.