BBC SPORT | Motorsport | World Rally | Martin takes shock lead

Ford driver Marko Martin took a surprise lead in the Acropolis Rally at the end of day one.

The Estonian led the Greek event throughout Friday and leads by 50.7 seconds from Hyundai's Freddy Loix, with Colin McRae lying third.

And he is more than a minute clear of three of the pre-rally favourites, the Peugeot pair of Marcus Gronholm and Richard Burns, and his Ford team-mate Carlos Sainz.

McRae warned by stewards

Another fancied driver, four-times world champion Tommi Makinen, was ruled out of contention when he became the rally's first retirement.

Makinen's Subaru lost a wheel when it suffered steering problems and hit a rock.

Pace-setter Martin said of his strategy: "I decided to attack from the word go.

"I had to make use of my privileged position in the first few to go lift up all the stones and earth."
Tommi Makkinen became the rally's first retirement
Tommi Makinen's Subaru lost a wheel

Martin, who has never won a World Rally Championship event, is likely to need every second of his advantage on Saturday.

The leaderboard is reverse-seeded for the second leg, giving him the disadvantage of running 15th on the road.

However, Burns argued that Martin could actually benefit from his late start on Saturday, as he may find the roads swept clear of the power-sapping dust that has blighted the progress of other drivers.

The British world champion, sixth after day one, said: "The surface is very slippery and too smooth for those at the front.

"Running further back is a definite advantage."

Burns backs new-look Peugeot

As Martin built his lead by winning three of Friday's six special stages, his team-mate Colin McRae was making steady progress up the leaderboard.

The Scot ended the day less than three seconds behind Belgian driver Loix.

McRae said: "I gambled with my tyre choice for the second group of stages and it wasn't ideal.

"I also spun and stalled on one stage so I haven't really had a clear run all day but I'm happy with my overall position."

Leading positions after stage six of the Acropolis Rally:

1. Markko Martin (Est), Ford, one hour 43 minutes and 01.6 seconds
2. Freddy Loix (Bel), Hyundai, 50.7 seconds behind
3. Colin McRae (GBr), Ford, 53.0
4. Harri Rovanpera (Fin), Peugeot, 56.5
5. Carlos Sainz (Spa), Ford, 1:09.4
6. Richard Burns (GBr), Peugeot, 1:11.7
7. Marcus Gronholm (Fin), Peugeot, 1:16.8
8. Armin Schwarz (Ger), Hyundai, 1:17.1
9. Sebastien Loeb (Fra), Citroen, 1:20.7
10. Thomas Radstrom (Swe), Citroen, 1:29.7