Former world rally champion Tommi Makinen had a near miss with a spectator during a trial run for the Swedish Rally on Thursday.

The Subaru driver was angered by the incident ahead of this weekend's race.

I think it would be unfair to expect the team to show the same pace here as in Monte Carlo Colin McRae

"The biggest drama was having to brake from sixth gear when a stupid spectator was in the middle of the road," said Makinen.

"I just missed him."

Meanwhile, reigning world champion Marcus Gronholm - the winner in Sweden last year - tipped Briton Colin McRae to finish on the podium on Sunday.

McRae, who could become the first non-Nordic driver to win in Sweden, inflicted light front-end damage to his car when he skidded off on a corner.

"I'm pretty confident," said McRae, whose Citroen team swept the podium at the first rally of the season in January.

"But I think it would be unfair to expect the team to show the same pace here as in Monte Carlo."

The Swedish Rally starts on Friday with a six-stage first leg culminating in a 1.86km sprint near Karlstad.