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The penultimate day of the 2008 Central Europe Rally continued at the same fast and furious pace that has marked this new event since the beginning of the week. However, it turned out to be a little less successful leg for Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart: Stéphane Peterhansel/Jean-Paul Cottret (France) have lost the lead they have held practically non-stop since Monday after dropping an estimated 40 seconds on this morning's test, although only 18 seconds separate the French pair from the new leader, Carlos Sainz, this evening. The fight is far from over!

The scrap is proving just as close for third place, too, since Luc Alphand/Gilles Picard are up to fourth place this evening, just seven seconds adrift of Depping (Germany). The bad news for Mitsubishi today, however, is the loss of Nani Roma and Lucas Cruz (Spain) who were forced out with a mechanical problem while running in third position this morning.

"It's turning out to be a very close thing and the pace is exceptionally fast, so to have two cars still in the fight for top places on the last day against a field of such talented drivers is particularly gratifying," says Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart Team Director Dominique Serieys (France). "It says so much for the potential and reliability of the Pajero/Montero Evolution, especially against the new generation of cross-country rally-raid cars, but also for the ability and cool-headedness of our drivers. I am obviously disappointed for Nani but that's the sort of thing that can happen when it gets this fast. Tomorrow, Stéphane and Luc will both be looking to gain a place. It's in their hands now, and all I can say is: 'May the best man win!'"

Ironically, Stéphane Peterhansel lost the majority of his time today in the dust of his team-mate, Luc Alphand. "I caught Luc after about 100km into this morning's stage and I couldn't get past, so I had to sit in his dust and I reckon that must have cost us around half a minute," reckons Peterhansel. "This afternoon, I did everything I could to make up for the lost time. I took as many risks as I dared and it ended up paying because we have cut the deficit back down to 18 seconds, and Jean-Paul and I will give it everything we can tomorrow to try to get back ahead of Carlos."

The morning stage took place in bright warm weather, but the conditions turned colder in the afternoon, and there was even a little rain as Luc Alphand did his utmost to pass Depping in the overall standings. "We've got nobody on our heels behind us on the leaderboard now, and Depping is seven seconds ahead," explained the Frenchman. "Our choice for tomorrow is simple: either we just sit back and cruise home to fourth place or we give it everything we can to try and finish on the podium. Believe me; I have every intention of going for the second option! We went straight on into the woods at one point on this afternoon's stage and that must have cost us perhaps ten seconds, otherwise we might have been on the podium tonight. But at the pace we're going, you've got to expect this sort of incident because this is the fastest cross-country rally I've ever contested! I'm obviously sorry to have held up Stéphane this morning."