Skoda team driver Juho Hanninen is known as a gravel expert, and the Finn proved it once again by taking a solid stage victory as the Rally Russia competitors returned for a second passage through the 15-kilometre Yashino stage.

Hanninen's run took 8:37.0 to complete, his stage-winning result bettering teammate Jan Kopecky's performance by a full 14.7 seconds. By taking second place, Kopecky offered another one-two stage victory for the Czech manufacturer team.

"I'm just keeping to the middle of the road and trying to keep out of trouble," Hanninen declared despite his striking performance.

"The stages have changed so much with the heavy rainfall today," he reported. "The watersplashes are now like lakes and people are struggling."

Guy Wilks also did very well by setting the third-quickest time 2.9sec behind Kopecky's Skoda Fabia. The Englishman's works Proton Satria Neo S2000 is still in its development phase, but the car's potential is clearly there on its second-only attempt within the Intercontinental Rally Challenge series following a short-lived maiden run in Belgium last month.

Russian favourite Aleksander Zheludov set the fourth-fastest time at the controls of his Tsunami Team Peugeot 207. The engine troubles which delayed him during the earlier stages seemed to have been resolved but nearly a half-minute was lost on this run behind determined stage winner Hanninen.

Fifth-placed Patrick Flodin completed this test an additional 18sec behind, followed by the Abarth Grande Puntos of Anton Alen and Giandomenico Basso. Unfortunately for Basso however, his strong push was perturbed by a puncture which cost him nearly a minute.

Franz Wittman claimed the eighth spot for the Interwetten Racing Team with his Mitsubishi Lancer, just shy of the one-minute delay mark on this stage's best result. It appears there are slight concerns regarding his car's rear axles.

The leaderborad shows that Juho Hanninen's lead in Russia has grown to 24.7 seconds on teammate Jan Kopecky, himself 36.9sec ahead of the now third-placed Guy Wilks. Patrik Flodin remains fourth while Giandomenico Basso's troubles on this stage see him drop two places to fifth overall; however the Italian is 8.2 seconds away from Flodin and will surely go on the attack.

Today's final stage comes next with the repeat passage over the Kutuzovo run.