Finland’s Henri Toivonen held off a charge...

Finland’s Henri Toivonen held off a charge by four-time champion Walter Rohrl of West Germany to hold the lead in the 54th Monte Carlo auto rally on the third stage of the week-long event.

Toivonen, who led a Lancia sweep of the second stage Sunday, won the eighth and ninth timed sections to maintain a 1-minute, 41-second lead over Rohrl and a 2:22 lead over Lancia teammate and compatriot Markku Alen.

The third stage was marred by a spectacular crash on the seventh timed section when Italian Alessandro Fiorio’s Fiat and Frenchman Jean-Claude Andruet’s Citroen left the slippery, snow-covered route and crashed, injuring the two drivers and a spectator. None of the three were seriously hurt.