The Mitsubishi driver cruised home by a minute from McRae's team-mate Carlos Sainz with Francois Delecour more than a minute further adrift in third on his debut in the Focus.

Finnish driver Makinen became the first man since Germany's Walter Rohrl in 1984 to win the world's most famous rally three years in a row and only the third man in the event's 90-year history to claim a hat-trick.

The victory was the perfect start to Makinen's bid to regain the world title he relinquished after a four-year reign last season to countryman Marcus Gronholm who retired on the opening day.

Makinen, who had started the day just 3.5 seconds adrift of McRae, had a comfortable run to the finish after the Scotsman hit problems on the first of today's four stages.

The electronic throttle on McRae's Focus developed a fault on the 19.6 mile stage that took in the famous Col de Turini in the mountains high above Monte Carlo.

McRae had to stop to disconnect the throttle linkage and convert to the mechanical back-up and although he was able to complete the stage - dropping to 10th as a result - he was forced to retire.

"It's a new system but you have got to try these things," said McRae who was hoping to become the first British winner of the event for 33 years. "This is bitterly disappointing.

"There was a also an issue of safety because the throttle could have jammed if we had continued. We were out of the points anyway."

Makinen was left with a lead of over a minute from Sainz which he protected in the three remaining stages to claim the 21st victory of his career.