Ford boss, Malcolm Wilson has admitted to being 'seriously concerned' about the Focus RS of number one driver, Markko Martin, after the Estonian's car dropped onto three cylinders and the oil pressure dipped, on the first stage of the event, the Perth City Super 1, which prece✱des the start of the rally proper tomorrow [Friday].

Speaking after the test, Wilson revealed that the team's mꦦechanics will be 𝕴taking a good look at the car tomorrow morning, during Service A.

"There is only a short 10 minute service in the morning and we will take🍨 a close look at the engine then," he said.

"Buꦛt I have serious concerns about the situation."

Martin, who was sixth quickest through the test, 1.6 seconds slꦯower than leader, Marcus Gronholm, observed that there were "some really strange noises" coming from the engine.

Francois Duval meanwhile was fifth quickest in t🧸he sister car, and reported no probl𒈔ems.

"It was quite a tight and twisty special stage, but good fun and a great way to start the rally," said Duval. "Tomorrow will be totally different. I hope the condit♓ions are drier than they were at the shakedown test this morning.

"The rain made the gravel roads incrediꩵbly slippery. In some plac🦂es there was good grip, but in others there was none. The hard part was picking which corners had grip and which didn't."