Makinen & Pirelli push for Monte Carlo win

Both Carlos Sainz and Tommi Makinen were ready with their praise for the Pirelli tyre performance today. Sainz explained: 'The roads are alternating between dry and humid but Pirelli has the right tyre for these conditions.' Makinen added: 'Pirelli really has found a solution to this very tricky problem and I can drive at 100% even though I am still learning about the Impreza. I am keeping the pressure on Sebastien and I believe I can still win this rally.'

The performance of the RS9 dry asphalt tyre has been a talking point of this year's Monte Carlo Rally and it has ensured that Makinen is still very much in contention for a record breaking fourth successive win on the most famous rally in the World. Petter Solberg (Subaru-Pirelli) won today's opening stage and Makinen claimed three more of the six stages. Both Solberg and Sainz lost time on today's second stage after going off the road and damaging wheels but Pirelli's EMI anti-deflation system maintained the tyre's performance to the finish. With just tomorrow's final leg of four stages to go, Makinen and rally leader Sebastien Loeb have turned the battle for victory into a two-horse race.

Once again the conditions have seen very little ice and none of the expected snow, making tyre choice simple but denying teams the chance to show their versatility on the mixed conditions that are normally a feature of this event.