Greece, June 07: Estonian Markko Martin led for Ford on the first day of the Acropolis Rally despite having to drive with his windscreen obscured by the car's bonnet (hood). World champion Marcus Gronholm retired after the day's stages with fuel problems. Martin took the overall lead from Belgium's Francois Duval by winning stage two of the Greek round of the World Rally Championship on Friday (June 6). The Estonian had to drive for 20km of the fifth stage with his Focus's bonnet obstructing his view. "We went into a dip in the road and as we came out of the compression the bonnet flew open, cracking the windscreen and breaking the roof ventilation system," he said. "I could see no more than 40 metres ahead of us and the cockpit became incredibly hot because there was no air coming in through the ventilator. "I had to turn the car where I thought the corners were... I simply had to react to what I saw at the last minute and I was like a blind man trying to drive a car." While Duval held second overall until running off the road on stage five, Martin held the lead despite the improving form of the two Finns Harri Rovanpera and Gronholm behind him with Norway's Petter Solberg closing up on them.


After seven stages the field were due to run a sprint special stage to close the first day, but there were spectators on the course and it was deemed to be too dusty -- so the stage was cancelled.


During the drive back to rally base at Lamia, Gronholm experienced fuel pickup problems and was forced to retire, according to the World Rally Championship internet site.


Colin McRae, winner of the event for the past three years, was placed eighth in his Citroen after seven stages and 56.8 seconds behind Martin, who has yet to win a round of the world championship.


Citroen's McRae had an electrical problem before the second stage and was late arriving at the start, collecting a 50 second penalty.


Championship leader Richard Burns was in 10th place after struggling with gearbox problems on his Peugeot.


Leading times in the Acropolis Rally after seven stages (eighth cancelled) on Friday: 1. Markko Martin (Estonia) Ford one hour 47 minutes 35.0 seconds 2. Harri Rovanpera (Finland) Peugeot 4.8 seconds behind 3. Marcus Gronholm (Finland) Peugeot 15.8 (retired at end of day) 4. Petter Solberg (Norway) Subaru 23.9 5. Carlos Sainz (Spain) Citroen 37.9 6. Tommi Makinen (Finland) Subaru 38.2 7. Gilles Panizzi (France) Peugeot 48.2 8. Colin McRae (Britain) Citroen 56.8 9. Didier Auriol (France) Skoda 1:29.7 10. Richard Burns (Britain) Peugeot 1:39.7


Bureau Report