FRENCHMAN Patrick Bernardini's faultless drive through the final night of the Monte Carlo Rally enabled him to secure his first win in the event yesterday. He took no chances in his Ford Escort to reach the finish still in the lead as his rivals suffered on roads covered with snow in the mountains overlooking Monaco.

Making only his second appearance in the winter classic, Bernardini won with a comfortable margin of three minutes 44 seconds over another Frenchman Francois Delecour, in a Peugeot 306.

Pre race favourite Arm in Schwarz of Germany, who survived a scare when his Toyota Celica went off the road in the final night's first timed stage, had to settle for third, seven minutes and 12 seconds in arrears.

Bernardini, who took the lead on the first day and held it throughout, drove cautiously as fifth placed Cesar Baroni of France clocked the best time in the first two timed stages of the night in his Subaru Impreza.

French rally champion Bernardini, who hardly knew the roads or his car, got used to both surprisingly quickly and proved his ability to deal with pressure. "We had to be cautious in the final stages and stay focused at the same time," he said. "I did not expect to do so well and I'm particularly pleased."

Delecour, the 1994 winner, said he was glad he came to the rally which does not count towards the world championship this year. "It's still the Monte Carlo, Rally and I did not want to miss it," said Delecour, who will switch to a works Ford for the first round of the world championship in Sweden next month.