It is midway through day-6 of the 9 day event and the winner Bjorn Waldegard sits stoically in his battered Porsche 911. This car has just had a large section of the roll cage replaced because of extensive damage sustained after Bjorn lost control in a slippery mud-hole and hit a stranded truck. The repair was expertly effected by the Tuthill Porsche team, who cannibalised a retired 911 to repair Waldegard's version in real African 'back-street-garage' style. Incredibly only 41 minutes in road penalties were lost.
Jari-Matti Latvala took his 1st win of the year.
Kimi Raikkonen on SS5 at sunset.
When President Todt announced he wanted WRC rallies to spend less time in the service park and more time out on the road, photographers interpreted this as more stages each day. The reality is somewhat different. The Acropolis organisers only managed 6 stages in a total road distance of 567km on Day 1. The return of the Rengini stage with its' deep watersplash was the highlight, 1,000's of spectators, all the regular snappers and one dragonfly keeping tabs on Petter Solberg.
Sébastien Loeb was imperious in Sardinia. He started every stage first on the road, and won, something that the Ford drivers would struggle to contemplate. Has the 7x Champ been to see a sports psychologist ?
Armindo Araujo debuted the new MINI John Cooper Works S2000 car on his home event. HIs stage times gave great encouragement to Prodrive who will run the full-spec MINI WRC cars on six events this year. Photo: Colin McMaster
Mikko Hirvonen had the thankless task of being first car on the road on Friday, a position he does not particularly like. The resurgent Finn did well in his road cleaning role and ended the day in an impressive 3rd place overall, albeit nearly a minute and a half down on the leaders.  Photo: Daniel Roeseler
As temperatures dipped as low as -25 C in Sweden, hats, gloves and thermals were very much needed. Photo: Daniel Roeseler
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It is midway through day-6 of the 9 day event and the winner Bjorn Waldegard sits stoically in his battered Porsche 911. This car has just had a large section of the roll cage replaced because of extensive damage sustained after Bjorn lost control in a slippery mud-hole and hit a stranded truck. The repair was expertly effected by the Tuthill Porsche team, who cannibalised a retired 911 to repair Waldegard's version in real African 'back-street-garage' style. Incredibly only 41 minutes in road penalties were lost.
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