Marcus Grönholm dominated much of the opening leg of the Movistar RallyRACC Catalunya - Costa Daurada, but the Finn’s slim but significant advantage disappeared when he lost turbo boost in the penultimate stage and dropped to 10th position overnight. Championship leader, Sébastien Loeb, has been hot on the Ford driver’s heels throughout the day and takes a 27.3 second lead into the second leg of the fourth round of the FIA World Rally Championship.

Citroën Xsara drivers now control the leaderboard, with Daniel Sordo and Xavier Pons holding second and third positions respectively. Both had been locked in a battle with Mikko Hirvonen, but the Focus driver also lost power in the same stage as team-mate Grönholm and plummets from fourth to 14th overnight.

Former FIA World Rally Champion Petter Solberg moves into fourth position, but neither he nor Subaru team-mate Stéphane Sarrazin are showing their anticipated pace on the first true asphalt event of the 2006 series.

Following an accident in special stage 2 this morning, it is with deep regret that the organisers announced that Jörg Bastuck, co-driver to Aaron Nicolai Burkart (car 54), died as a result of his injuries.

Movistar RallyRACC Catalunya - Costa Daurada – Results after Leg 1
 

1	Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena	Citroën Xsara WRC	1 hr 16 min 07.0sec
2	Daniel Sordo/Marc Marti	Citroën Xsara WRC	1 hr 16 min 34.3sec
3	Xavier Pons/ Carlos Del Barrio	Citroën Xsara WRC	1 hr 17 min 08.5sec
4	Petter Solberg/Phil Mills	Subaru Impreza WRC	1 hr 17 min 32.6sec
5	Alexandre Bengue/Caroline Escudero	Peugeot 307 WRC	1 hr 17 min 39.6sec
6	Jan Kopecky/Filip Schovánek	Škoda Fabia WRC	1 hr 17 min 43.0sec