2001 Rally Australia

Okay Next up is the penultimate round of the 2001 WRC season the last to be covered by the BBC and we make the long trip south once more for Rally Australia. Now after the asphalt double header of San Remo and Corsica McRae despite failing to score any points still lead the drivers championship from Makinen who also failed to score and had a new co-driver in Timo Hantunen after his huge accident in Corsica which ruled out regular co-driver Risto Mannisenmaki for the run in on count back. Also you couldn't rule Richard Burns who won in Australia in 99 out of the picture too he was only 6 points off the leaders after team mate Solberg sacrificed his 4th place to Brit last time out. Meanwhile in the constructors race back to back maximum points hauls had Peugeot right on Ford's coat tails only 4 points in it who would triumph in a rally that always breeds controversy. As ever Tiff Needell and Mark James are your guides.