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World Sport

Gronholm powers to win in Finland


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Gronholm lies third in the world championship standings

JYVASKYLA, Finland (Reuters) -- Peugeot's Marcus Gronholm powered to victory in the Rally of Finland, finishing 34.7 seconds ahead of Ford's Markko Martin.

Finn Gronholm took the lead on the opening day and retained it from stage six until the final stage 22, despite losing fourth gear over a couple of runs on Saturday and being forced into a gearbox change.

World champion in 2000 and 2002, Gronholm is third in the championship standings on 42 points, level with Estonia's Martin.

Martin, last year's winner in Finland, drove conservatively after a 170-kph crash in the Rally of Argentina left him shortsighted, a significant problem when judging braking points.

Martin was content to settle for the eight championship points on offer for second place.

"Without that crash in Argentina, it would have been a lot better," he said. "But ifs and buts don't count. This is the situation."

Martin added he was uncertain if his eyesight problems will have fully cleared up before the next rally in Germany from August 20 to 22.

Citroen's French driver Sebastian Loeb retains the overall lead lead on 66 points, after finishing fourth in Finland, one behind his Spanish team mate Carlos Sainz.


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