A time of 9min 14.9sec gave Estonia’s Ott Tänak the fastest time in the first stage of the morning and the Hyundai driver moved into a 1.3-second rally lead.
Championship leader Elfyn Evans was handed road-cleaning duties. The Welshman posted an impressive target time of 9min 17.7sec in low-lying morning sun but ceded 2.6 seconds to team-mate Kalle Rovanperä. Thierry Neuville survived a half-spin into the banking and Sébastien Ogier complained that his set-up was too soft for the stage.
Martinš Sesks stopped 3.8km into the stage to change a front-left wheel after he sustained a puncture. The Latvian dropped three and a half minutes after letting Ford team-mate Josh McErlean pass him on the stage.
First blood amongst the front-runners in WRC2 went to a flying Oliver Solberg.
Three-minute intervals for Rally1 crews.
Car 33. EVANS/MARTIN
“Quite tricky grip, quite low in a few places. It was a bit mixed.”
Car 1. NEUVILLE/WYDAEGHE
Survived a half-spin into the banking and dropped around 10 seconds. “Just I lost the rear. Maybe I could have turned. Otherwise, it was okay.”
Car 8. TÄNAK/JÄRVEOJA
“When it is more loose the car is not working so good. It’s just the first stage…”
Car 17. OGIER/LANDAIS
“Something wrong. The set-up is not good. It is way too soft.”
Car 16. FOURMAUX/CORIA
“It’s a lot of loose and I was struggling to get the grip. The balance of the car was okay but I need to do a bit more with the lines. We will see.”
Car 69. ROVANPERÄ/HALTTUNEN
“It was okay. It didn’t feel so good as I wanted.”
Car 18. KATSUTA/JOHNSTON
“It’s all okay with the car but I was not so confident on this stage. I was a bit too careful.”
Car 5. PAJARI/SALMINEN
“Really tricky. Somehow, I was expecting a bit more consistent grip. I was not happy with the drive, I didn’t find the flow I was hoping for.”
Car 13. MUNSTER/LOUKA
“It was quite okay. Let’s see. I had a good feeling on the stage.”
Car 22. SESKS/FRANCIS
“It was the third corner. On the exit there was a big rock. We jumped on it and it pulled us on the side of the road. It was very unfortunate.”
Car 55. MCERLEAN/TREACY
“It was probably more a distraction (Sesks) than a time loss. Surprisingly, there are a lot of rocks out there already. It’s a long day ahead.”
Car 2. SALVI/CORONADO
“Rally is a completely different thing. We had two or three offs, going slowly. It shows that I am not in control!”
Car 20. SOLBERG/EDMONDSON
“It is the first time with the car on gravel. The feeling wasn’t great to be honest. I was a little bit too soft for this one. I need to learn the car in these conditions, play around with a few things and get some more speed.”
Car 21. ROSSEL/DUNAND
“Not easy, for sure. It is just the first stage but it is not the perfect feeling. I need to adapt the car.”
Car 23. GREENSMITH/ANDERSSON
“There are a lot of loose rocks. Struggling with the rear a little bit and a bit sideways in places, but all okay.”