Oxfordshire's Richard Burns, driving a Subaru Impreza WRC prepared in Banbury, won the Rally of Argentina to extend his lead in the 2000 World Championship to 14 points.
The Kidlington-based driver finished ahead of Finnish pair Marcus Gronholm (Peugeot) and Mitsubishi's Tommi Makinen, the reigning world champion, with Gronholm, who has proved a revelation this season, more than a minute behind.
Gronholm (24 points) and Makinen (23) are also the closest challengers to the Englishman in the Championship, with Burns now on 38 points after his third triumph this season and the eighth of his career. Gronholm's second place was jeopardised when he was called with co-driver Timo Rautiainen and the Peugeot-Sport management to appear before rally organisers.
The Finn lifted the bonnet of his car on a zone where no mechanical work is allowed.
If the FIA find he was repairing his machine he is likely to be sanctioned.
Burns, meanwhile, was delighted with his victory, saying: I'm absolutely ecstatic with this result. It's a fantastic feeling.
All of the team deserve this - they've worked really hard over the last few days. The conditions were very difficult and muddy and right up until the end of the rally anything could have happened. There certainly wasn't any opportunity to take it easy - I was pushing all the way. It's good to get more points, but the Championship's still a long way off yet and I'm just going to concentrate on winning the next event.
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