Rallying: McRae makes dramatic move

COLIN McRAE made history yesterday by climbing 102 places on the second day of the Monte Carlo Rally.

The Subaru driver from Scotland, furious after crashing on Monday when spectators shovelled snow on to an otherwise dry timed stage, started in 122nd place, but was the 19th driver to set off because his speed might have caused a safety problem lower down the order among the amateur drivers.

McRae had a tough task overhauling slower competitors on six stages shrouded in thick fog, but he was second-fastest on two of the timed stages.

France's Francois Delecour won five of the six stages in his Ford Escort to reinforce his overnight lead. The world champion, Juha Kankkunen of Finland in a Toyota Celica, was the only rival able to stay in touch, but he is trailing by 44 seconds.