The day might have started out quietly enough, but the weather conditions became progressively worse until the elements gathered together and offered a package deal of rain, wind and fog to the Wales Rally GB participants as they raced across rocky mud-covered roads.

Throughout all of this, Ford's Mikko Hirvonen came out on top five times out of six, relinquishing a stage win to Sébastien Loeb only once today. Hirvonen happily accumulated best times and now easily leads his teammate Marcus Grönholm by 39.6 seconds.

Overall, the Ford team duo may be at the head of the rally, but that will not be enough to prevent Citroën's Sébastien Loeb from clinching the driver's title if the standings remain as they are. Less than 20 seconds behind Grönholm, Loeb occupies the third overall position and needs only to maintain the pace to win another crown.

Hirvonen's day

Contrary to his usual rivals – Sébastien Loeb and Marcus Grönholm – Mikko Hirvonen can tackle the final round of the season without any pressure on his shoulders. The constructors' title has already been assured by his Ford team, and whatever the result this week-end, he will be the third-best driver of the 2007 season.

Hirvonen could therefore permit himself to go on the attack and take a few risks, something that he did quite frequently by claiming five of the six stages on today's schedule. This evening, he is the leader of Wales Rally GB's 75th edition and on his way to claiming vitory. With a nearly 40-second advantage on his nearest competitor, he could even start managing his race by mid-day tomorrow.

The aforementioned nearest competitor happens to be Marcus Grönholm. For his last WRC event before retiring, his chances for a third championship crown do not really depend on his own performance. He must remain high in the lead to keep the odds in his favour, but even if he eventually won the event, Sébastien Loeb needs only a fifth-place position on this rally to win the coveted title.

The Finn admitted outright that he was waiting for Loeb to commit a mistake, whereas he has no margin for error. After retiring during the last two events - Japan and Ireland – he must do all that he can to score maximum points while hoping for a slip from his rival. It is quite a balancing act: taking enough risks to stay ahead yet avoiding the risk that might cost his remaining chances. For the time being, his experience is serving him very well.

The title and nothing else for Loeb

Wales Rally GB is one of the events that is missing on Sébastien Loeb's victory list, even if he could have added it in the past. In 2003, he had to hold back from Petter Solberg and make sure the constructors' title went to Citroën. The following year, he would confront Solberg again but the Norwegian beat him to it. During the 2005 edition, following Michael Park's tragic accident, Loeb purposefully pulled back and let Solberg take the win, not wanting to take the title in such conditions. Last year, a quad bike-related injury kept him off the Welsh tracks.

The Frenchman wants to take this rally, but circumstances yet again prevent him from going all-out for a race win. If Grönholm ends the rally on the first or second step of the podium, Loeb must reach fifth or seventh place at least. There would be no logic in compromising a fourth World Championship crown in order to add another name to his victory list.

The plan is therefore to maintain the pace, keep near his rival, and avoid taking risks. The title beckons.

Citroën Sport teammate Dani Sordo is trying hard to find the right pace on these tricky stages. The Spaniard commited no mistakes and considered the day a learning experience; he presently stands fifth in the general rankings.

Lady Luck smiles on Petter Solberg

Petter Solberg is more than happy for his fourth overall place, as he considers himself very lucky indeed to have come out of a first-stage spin. In fact, he is amazed that he even remained on the road! The Norwegian would afterwards do his best at the wheel of a works Subaru Impreza whose handling is not yet perfect.

Teammate Chris Atkinson did not find the total confidence required to take on the Welsh routes today. The Australian tried different settings on his car but did not find the magic equation; he is in the seventh spot this evening.

Roller coaster ride for the Stobart Ford drivers

Henning Solberg started the day with a puncture that would cost him a whole minute. Things would get better, but a demisting problem affecting his windshield would prove practically unsurmountable. With near-zero visibility ahead as he drove through fog and rain, not to mention a mist-covered windshield, Solberg lost over seven minutes during the fifth stage alone.

Jari-Matti Latvala took to the trails with an excellent rhythm, placing himself fourth overall. Unfortunately, his wipers would cease functioning on the rain-drenched last stage, forcing him to stop several times in order to wipe off the mud splashed onto his windshield. That resulted in a 10-minute loss and a drop down to 15th place in the general rankings.

For the first leg of his home rally, Matthew Wilson went through a less stressful day, reaching sixth place on the leaderboard. He is ahead of Chris Atkinson's Subaru, Manfred Stohl's Citroën, and the third works Subaru of Xevi Pons.

As for Andreas Mikkelsen, racing at the wheel of his new Ford Focus WRC06, he accomplished quite a performance by making it into the top ten.

Wales Rally GB will begin its second leg Saturday morning at 9:38 local time with the Crychan trail, the first of seven stages to be competed upon.