Duval dominates JWRC as Ford Puma flies in Greece.

Searing heat and car-breaking rock-strewn roads are a tough enough challenge for the World Rally Championship contenders but, without the benefit of four-wheel drive, the crews in the FIA Junior World Rally Championship faced an even tougher Acropolis Rally than their 'senior' rivals.

On today's six stages in the mountains around the central service area at Lilea-Parnassos, temperatures were exceeding 30?C in the shade and considerably higher in the 23 cars competing on this third event in the six-round FIA series. Of those 23 only 12 survived the opening leg.

Ford's championship leader (and the only driver to have scored points on both events held so far - Monte Carlo and Catalunya) Francois Duval and co-driver Jean-Marc Fortin led the 'junior' crews over the ramp at last night's ceremonial start in Athens and into today's stages. Underlining his potential as a future World Champion, the 21-year old Belgian was fastest on the opening stage in his Puma and extended his lead to 1min 06.9secs on SS6.

"We got off to a good start, driving quickly but carefully," he said. "We've lost some time trying to save the car on the rough sections but we've also been able to make up some of that time by driving quickly when the roads are smooth. We'll treat tomorrow the same as today - there are some tough stages but I'm very pleased with today's performance."

The Swedish pairing of Daniel Carlsson and Mattias Andersson was able to close on Duval when the Belgian smashed a wheel on one of the rocks. Carlsson admitted: "I am trying to avoid the rocks and keep on the smooth bits as much as possible. I'm very confident in the car."

Astra team principal Luca Pregliasco noted: "Daniel has been incredible. However the Acropolis Rally demands careful attention as it can easily destroy your dreams." Pregliasco's fears were realised on SS4, Rengini, when Carlsson's Puma was forced out of second position with loss of oil pressure after the battering from the Greek roads.

The Ford contingent had already been cut from six to five at the end of the opening stage after Lebanese driver Roger Feghali and his Italian co-driver Nicola Arena were forced to withdraw. "We didn't realise it but we must have hit a large rock on the stage and the water temperature started to rise. When we checked the car at the stage finish we realised that a rock had punctured the radiator too badly to continue," said Feghali.

Almost all of the Ford Puma drivers were seen adjusting their suspension at first service. British Rally Champions Martin Rowe and Chris Wood commented: "There are a lot of very big rocks in the road that we are trying to avoid but you can't be too cautious as it would be easy to get left behind. We are just trying to pace ourselves at the moment. We suffered a water leak on SS4 but we were able to make it to service and change the radiator." They lie fourth tonight.

Paraguayan driver Alejandro Galanti and Spanish co-driver Xavier Colon have had a difficult opening day getting the Puma's suspension tuned for the conditions but are the third of the four Puma crews still in the event.

Norway's Alexander Foss and Cato Menkerud are tackling their first WRC season and so are treating their debut Acropolis Rally as a learning exercise. Foss found himself entertaining a contestant in the Greek TV 'Big Brother' programme who got a close look at the inside of the Ford Puma while the mechanics repaired its hard-suffering suspension.

Chris Birkbeck, whose team runs both Duval and Foss, reflected on the day: "Francois has driven well today. The car has taken a pasting but stood up well while our rivals have faltered. We had a small scare at final service when the car cut out but we traced it to a broken wire in the loom and it's all fixed now. Alexander has done exactly what we asked of him. He needs to gain experience and he is under instructions just to get to the finish."

News from Ford's 'Junior' rivals:

The first retirement of the Acropolis Rally was that of Italian Fiat Punto driver Gianluigi Galli who handed in his time card at the end of SS1 having suffered electrical troubles. Another leading Italian-driven Fiat, that of Giandomenico Basso, retired two stages later while Finland's experienced Juha Kangas crashed his Suzuki Ignis into retirement on the second stage.

Andrea Dallavilla arrived at first service with no oil in the engine of his Citroen Saxo after the Italian knocked off the drain plug in the previous stage. He then broke a gear lever and had to tackle SS3 and SS4 in third gear only, along with two broken rear shock absorbers! Meanwhile his team mate Mirco Baldacci also suffered rear shock absorber failure.

Andorran driver Albert Llovera had brake troubles on SS2 and several of the following cars were delayed as a result while Finn Kosti Katajamaki rolled his VW Polo on the opening stage but managed to regain the road and continue.

Britain's Gwyndaf Evans also hit trouble with broken suspension on SS3 that cost road penalties while fixing the problem.

Tomorrow's route:

There is to be no let-up for the crews tomorrow as they face a further six stages after the restart at 0715. After first service the event moves into SS9 Eliata which, at 37.16kms, is the longest stage of the rally (repeated on Sunday as SS15) before the final pair of stages sees a repeat of the morning's first two tests. Tomorrow's leg totals 158.76kms of stage length, around 20kms longer than today's distance.

Overall JWRC after SS6 - leg two:

1.Francois DuvalFord Puma1hour 55mins 14.0secs2.Jussi ValimakiCitroen Saxo+01mins 06.9secs3.Janne TuohinoCitroen Saxo+01mins 25.6secs

4.Martin RoweFord Puma+02mins 05.5secs5.Andrea DallavillaCitroen Saxo VTS+02mins 08.0secs6.Nicola CaldaniPeugeot 206 XS+02mins 11.9secs7.Alejandro GalantiFord Puma+03mins 03.8secs8.Gwyndaf EvansMG ZR Super 1600+03mins 42.1secs9.Daniel SolaCitroen Saxo VTS+06mins 10.4secs10.Kosti KatajamakiVW Polo+07mins 19.4secs