As the cars leave service for the first of today's final four stages, just 60 competitive kilometres separate Juho Hanninen from his first IRC victory. However, he is not going to have an easy ride.

Once more, the weather conditions are cloudy and cool - just as they were on Thursday's opening leg - and the threat of rain is very real.

The biggest problem that Hannninen will face though is the rough rocks on the stages. With a lead of nearly two minutes he can afford not to take too many risks, but it would be easy to pick up suspension damage that could put him out of the rally - as happened to 1994 World Rally Champion Didier Auriol yesterday.

The Abarths of Anton Alen and Giandomenico Basso are right behind him and ready to profit from any mistakes or mechanical misfortunes.

"It's just a question of trying to stay calm," said Hanninen. "Of course, there's no point in driving flat-out. Equally, you cannot drive too slowly as then you lose the rhythm and your concentration."

After two stages, the cars will come into midday service at 12:10 (local time, which is CET +2h).

The competitors then repeat the loop of stages before entering final service followed by the finish ramp at 16:10.