McRae adopts a go-slow policy

After a day battling to clock the fastest times through the opening six gruelling rock-covered stages in the Cyprus Rally, Colin McRae ironically managed to achieve his primary target by purposefully going slower than his opponents through yesterday's final two stages.

The canny Scot embraced a go-slow approach to ensure he wouldn't suffer the disadvantage of being the first to take on the gravel stages The 32-year-old, who started the day 14.7 seconds off the lead, fires up his Ford Focus before tackling today's closing eight tests in second place with just a three seconds disadvantage between his car and the Subaru piloted by Englishman Richard Burns and his Perth co-driver Robert Reid.

And McRae readily admits he's ready to pounce on the new leader.

"We've manoeuvred ourselves into the perfect position," the 1995 world champ smiled after making his way back to rally HQ at Limassol on the island's southern coast.

"When I set out this morning eight seconds behind Richard, my primary aim was to take time back from him, which I've done, but not end the day in front.

"Running first on the road tomorrow, Richard should sweep most of the gravel off for me to follow and that should allow me to go quicker."

But while McRae knows victory, just three weeks after his triumph in Argentina, would ease him to just seven points behind the Mitsubishi of the current world championship leader Tommi Makinen, fellow Scot Reid is confident his man can hold of the Ford driver's challenge.

"Richard is back to his best and driving like a world champion," Reid said.

"He hasn't put a wheel wrong during the first two days and I'm very confident he'll be able to keep Colin behind us.

"Sure, it's not ideal being first on the road, but that's what we've got and we'll just have to get on with it."

Just 24 seconds cover the top four drivers with overnight leader Marcus Gronholm dropping back to third in his Peugeot after seeing his 5.7 second advantage disappear by being the first to take to the road yesterday.

McRae's Ford team-mate Carlos Sainz holds fourth after a stunning day's worth of driving when he clocked fastest times in six of eight tests.

McRae's younger brother Alister starts ninth and remains on course for another top 10 finish despite being over eight minutes behind Burns in his Hyundai Accent.

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