Finland's Juha Kankkunen will lead the British Rally away from the stately homes of England to the forest tracks of Wales after dominating the first leg in a Subaru yesterday. The 40-year-old, rallying's most successful driver with four world titles and 23 wins, led Frenchman Francois Delecour's Peugeot by just 3.5 seconds.

Finland's Marcus Gronholm, also in a Peugeot, was third a further second back after seven stages that took in Cheltenham racecourse, Cornbury deer park, Blenheim Palace and Silverstone's grand prix circuit.

Britain's Richard Burns, Kankkunen's Subaru team-mate, charged back to fourth place, 8.1 seconds behind the leader after an early spin and stalled engine.

Burns, winner here last year and of the last round in Australia, was second fastest at Blenheim and then fastest at Silverstone.

"We've been going fast all day which is why I made mistakes early on. Without that we'd have been right up there with him," Burns said of Kankkunen.

Spain's Carlos Sainz was fifth, ahead of Toyota team-mate and fellow former champion Didier Auriol of France.

"It was very important to finish today," said Auriol, currently runner-up in a championship already won by Tommi Makinen of Finland. "We are in a good position and tomorrow the rally starts."

Kankkunen, who has won three times in Britain, was fastest in the second, third and fourth stages.

Colin McRae of Britain, the 1995 world champion, finished in eighth place.