Cyprus,June 20: Peugeot's Harri Rovanpera surged into a 14.5-second lead after the first two stages of the Rally of Cyprus. The Finn set fastest times on Friday morning's 11-kilometre opening stage from Platres to Kato Amiantos and the 38-km second stage from Lagoudera to Spilia. Rovanpera's fellow Peugeot driver Gilles Panizzi was second overall with four-time world champion Tommi Makinen just 0.1secs further back in third in the Subaru. Richard Burns, who leads the championship by five points but has yet to win a rally since joining Peugeot last year, was left with plenty to do to even secure a podium finish. The Englishman was 11th quickest on stage one before moving up to 10th overall after stage two, 59.4secs down on Rovanpera. Burns had the disadvantage of running first as 'roadsweeper' and lost more time when the front left tyre was punctured on the second stage.

World champion Marcus Gronholm , who has won all three of the rallies he has finished this season, is 20 seconds behind Peugeot team-mate Rovanpera in fourth place.

Scotsman Colin McRae started the day well with a fourth on stage one but lost ground on the second to drop down to ninth overall in his Citroen, 55.9secs behind the leader. Hampshire's Justin Dale, making his first WRC start for Hyundai after agreeing a six-rally deal, was forced to retire on stage two.

Dale's car began to overheat on the stage and after attempting to help the problem by topping up water levels mid-stage, he was forced to withdraw as the trouble became too serious. The morning's two stages will both be re-run in the afternoon to complete the first day.

Bureau Report