Sainz no saint in orders row.

Carlos Sainz has lashed out at the Ford team for telling him to let team-mate Colin McRae win the Acropolis Rally.

The Spaniard's decision to challenge the team's authority by overtaking McRae on the leaderboard, before pulling over in a public show of displeasure cast a cloud over what had been an enthralling event, and a rare one-two for the Focus WRC. His actions may even lead to sanctions by event overseer, the FIA.

Sainz said that he had no grievance with McRae, who had led the rally almost from the start, but hit out at the team's decision to apply orders at such an early point in the season. He claimed that he was not opposed to the finishing order within a team being settled before the end of an event - indeed he had benefited from similar decisions in the past - but had not expected to be on the receiving end until the last few rounds of the championship.

''I understand that team orders [may be imposed] at the end of the year,'' Sainz complained, ''and I absolutely agree to help a team-mate. But it should be at the end of the year. I don't have a problem with the orders, just the situation.''

The two drivers also had differing opinions on whether the incident would affect their relationship, with Sainz seemingly unworried. McRae on the other hand, said that there was a possibility of things becoming strained. The pair have been through the same scenario in the past, when both were driving for Subaru, but, on that occasion, it was McRae that had to pull over. And he made a public show it, too.

''No driver likes team orders,'' said the Scot, ''but we had a special situation [in Greece]. It would have been crazy for us to keep fighting.''