Defending champion Colin McRae completed back-to-back victories in the 555 China Rally yesterday, eclipsing teammate Piero Liatti by more than two minutes after three days of gruelling competition.
Driving identical 555 Subaru World Rally Team Imprezas, Scotsman McRae completed the 22 special stages totalling 385 kilometres in four hours, 27 minutes and 44.4 seconds.
'We came here to win and we achieved what we wanted to do,' said World Rally Championship leader McRae.
The rally was run in hot, dusty conditions, punctuated by one violent thunderstorm late on Sunday afternoon.
McRae's car suffered serious overheating and power steering problems during the event but the final six stages were virtually trouble free for him yesterday.
The twisting and often bumpy gravel special stages took its toll on machinery. Of a starting field of 34, only 18 vehicles finished the event.
Liatti was still cursing his bad luck on the final stage of day two when a broken drive shaft cost him a lead of over two minutes and the rally.