Makinen stays on course

Sainz' challenge was scuppered by engine problems

Finland's Tommi Makinen stayed on course to capture the Safari Rally title after the gruelling race continued to claim high-profile victims.

Makinen has been in charge of the race since the second stage of the race on Friday and goes into Sunday's final day with a six-minute lead over countryman Harri Rovanpera in a Peugeot.

Petter Solberg of Norway is in third spot, more than 10 minutes off the pace.

The Mitsubishi driver cemented his position in the overall lead with a superb drive on the 84.5km sixth special to come home ahead of his rivals by more than 30 seconds.

Mechanical nightmares

Makinen had been forced to play second fiddle to Rovanpera and Solberg on the fifth special, but turned the tables on the Mbaruk section soon afterwards to win the sixth.

Earlier, Spain's Carlos Sainz became the latest high-profile casualty of the event, abandoning in his Ford Focus on the fifth special with engine trouble.

Sainz, who had been lying second after Friday's specials, joined an array of talent who have already succumbed to the arduous race, one of the most punishing events on the world championship calendar.

Colin McRae, Richard Burns, Didier Auriol and reigning world champion Marcus Gronholm all suffered mechanical nightmares and were forced into retirement on Friday.

Leading positions at end of day two:

1 Tommi Makinen/Risto Mannisenmaki (Fin) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6hr 27min 06sec
2 Harri Rovanpera/Risto Pietilainen (Fin) Peugeot 206 WRC at 6min 14sec
3 Petter Solberg/Philip Mills (Nor-GBR) Subaru Impreza WRC 10:24.0
4 Armin Schwarz/Manfred Hiemer (Ger) Skoda Octavia WRC 17:08.0
5 Francois Delecour/Daniel Grataloup (Fra) Ford Focus WRC 22:09.0
6 Bruno Thiry/Stephan Prevot (Bel) Skoda Octavia WRC 36:31.0
7 Freddy Loix/Sven Smeets (Bel) Mitsubishi Carisma GT 1hr01:01.0
8 Gabriel Pozzo/Daniel Luis Tillo (Arg) Mitsubishi Lancer GrN 1hr30:10.0
9 Marcos Ligato/Ruben Garcia (Arg) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 1hr31:32.0
10 Rory Green/Orson Taylor (Ken) Subaru Impreza GrN, 2hr13:54.0