Sandell continues to lead the battle of the Swedes

Patrik Sandell, now left as Prodrive’s sole MINI representative, has enjoyed another great day at the wheel of the John Cooper Works WRC.

The Swede continues to hold eighth place at the end of day two and he is firmly on course to score his best-ever overall result at home, despite a small problem of his own making that risked his car overheating in the after.

Sandell explained: “We have had another really good day and I feel I am getting faster and faster. Unfortunately on stage 17 I forgot to remove the radiator blank which protects it during the road stages and had to stop on the stage to take it out. This allowed Martin Prokop in the Ford to close right up, but I am confident I can grow my lead tomorrow and continue to develop as a driver.

"I just want to thank the Prodrive team; they are so professional and they are really helping me to get the best out of myself and the car.”

The second-highest placed Swede is still P-G Andersson, who continues to lead the Super 2000 standings in his PROTON Satria with 14th overall. Andersson had a problem with his dampers freezing up in the morning, but a damper change at lunchtime transformed his car in the afternoon.