Antoine l'Estage drove his Mitsubishi Evo IX to a last-stage four-second victory over Sylvain Erickson (Subaru) on the opening round of the Canadian championship, after nearly two hours of rallying. This was the Perce-Neige (Snow Drop) Rally at Maniwaki, Quebec. Rally favourite Patrick Richard retired his Subaru with engine failure, while the fastest driver on the stages Frank Sprongl (in a nine year old Evo VI) was excluded for receiving outside assistance.

The first major rally of the season in Estonia was the Antsla Rally based at Kobela, close to the borders of Russia and Latvia, won by Ott Tanak in a Subaru Impreza N14, beating Margus Remmak in an Evo IX and the Finn Jukka Hiltunen in a Peugeot 207.

Finally the first round of the Kenyan championship was won by Carl Tundo in an Evo IX in front of the similar car of Alastair Cavenagh and the old Impreza N11 of Asad Anwar. This was run in the north of the country.

Latest pre-Norway news: it has been announced in India that Gaurav Gill has asked the FIA for permission to exchange Norway for Australia in the Sidvin team's PCWRC entry, and he is therefore not expected to start Rally Norway. Snow has been falling, and Pirelli's trucks were stranded at Oslo docks. Oslo airport was closed for a while yesterday.

3mmm