Estonia's Markko Martin shrugged off last year's disappointment to earn a first Acropolis rally win in Greece in June. The Ford driver looked certain to take the top spot 12 months ago only to be denied by a disastrous late puncture, but this time nothing could stop him as he blazed away from second-placed Carlos Sainz.

The hot dry conditions made for dusty driving close to the central Greek town of Lamia, and no one had an answer to the raw speed of the Estonian who led from the front to claim one of the top events on the World Rally Circuit.

This time round, Martin led from Stage Two and eventually sealed victory by 46 seconds from Portugal's Sainz. The Estonian held almost a minute's advantage going into the final day's racing ahead of Sainz, who had Norway's Petter Solberg breathing down his neck just 21 seconds back in his Subaru.

However, any fears Martin may have had that the final day's racing may not go his way were dispelled after Stage 17 on Sunday when he finished second behind Solberg, with nearest rival Sainz back in seventh.

Sainz did manage to chip into Martin's lead over the remaining stages but it made little impression to the overall standings. The most intriguing battle of the day was who would finish second overall with Solberg in inspired form over the final stages, pushing Sainz all the way.

"It's very, very good to finally win a world championship rally," Martin told the WRC Web site.

The Norwegian claimed first place on Stage 17, 18, 20 and 22 but found the lead Sainz held over him from Saturday just too much to overhaul.

Briton Richard Burns shrugged off having to drive throughout the final day without second gear in his Peugeot to reel in Finn Tommi Makinen's Subaru before being gifted fourth place when fellow Brit Colin McRae's Citroen hit electronics problems on the penultimate stage and the Scot slipped back down to eighth.

Burns continues to lead the series due to his greater consistency and, as his team-mate Marcus Gronholm failed to finish in Greece, Burns' lead has increased to five points over Sainz with Gronholm slipping to third.

"I'm very glad to get to the end of this rally," said Burns, "it has been extreme stuff. Today I just concentrated on getting the car to the finish although I had trouble slipping down into first gear.