The second stage of the event saw a change at the top of the tables, as 2012 event winner Mads Ostberg went through the stage fastest and claimed the overall lead in the process.
The Norwegian was 3.5s faster than Dani Sordo but importantly, 7.9s faster than Sebastien Ogier, who drove the second stage on a full set of soft tyres. The Norwegian, on the other hand, was on hard tyres and felt these were better suited to the conditions and was comfortable pushing hard on the clean roads.
Second overall was Dani Sordo, who climbed from fifth to third overall despite complaining that his braking needed to improve. Ogier, running on four soft tyres, was third fastest and dropped to second but seemed unfased by his soft tyres.
Thierry Neuville was fourth-fastest, followed by Jari-Matti Latvala in fifth.
In the WRC2 category, former F1 driver Robert Kubica clearly had problems, arriving at the stage end with a puncture and a suspected water leak from the engine. He didn't stop to speak to the press.
Car 2, Hirvonen/Lehtinen
“This stage was not good. When I changed tyres, the car was not good at all. I have four hard tyres now.”
Car 3, Sordo/del Barrio
“Ostberg is really fast. I am happy with the car but I feel in some places I am not braking very well and I made a small mistake but happy so far.”
Car 4, Ostberg/Andersson
“It’s going quite well. We are pushing very hard but there’s not much more we can do. Perhaps I push too hard in some places – we have some moments – but I’m not sure I can push any more. I am confident I can push like this for a long time.”
Car 5, Novikov/Minor
“It feels like we are going fast – we are pushing – but the time is not so. No changes to the car for the moment.”
Car 6, Al-Attiyah/Bernacchini
“It’s quite a dry stage but it’s not easy to read the road well. We are trying to improve stage by stage and the car is becoming softer so better for my style.”
Car 7, Latvala/Anttila
“We need to think about the whole situation. To be honest, I don't have the confidence. We will see what we can do – we will try something.”
Car 8, Ogier/Ingrassia
“At the moment, it is not too bad. I am OK – there is no problem at all.”
Car 9, Mikkelsen/Markkula
“I’m so happy to be back in a World Rally Car. I have a lot to work with – it's all about getting used to this car. I feel like I am going fast but the car has so much more. A lot to learn. This stage was a bit more flowing and I felt I went a bit quicker without taking too many risks. I am learning with every metre.”
Car 10, Al Qassimi/Martin
“The stage is bumpy and rough with lots of bedrock. The car is very shaky. We are trying to find the right pace for us. Everything is working well.”
Car 11, Neuville/Guilsoul
“I pushed very hard. The first stage was too wet and we lost time. Here, I pushed to the maximum. One corner, I was too fast and lost a bit of time but a good feeling. There is definitely some road cleaning.”
Car 12, Kosciuszko/Szczepaniak
“Much drier than the first stage. The tyres were working better (soft tyres) but the wear is very high.”
Car 21, Prokop/Ernst
“Better than the stage before, The first stage was tricky for us. We have changed the set-up a bit but OK. The tyres are OK – it was not so slippery so better traction and with the shorter stages, it’s OK.”
Car 31, Lappi/Ferm
“It’s OK but I am not happy with the pace notes – I don't have the confidence. Maybe I can correct for the second pass. Hopefully we can improve tomorrow more.”
Car 32, Wiegand/Christian
“It felt like I had a puncture on the rear. I haven't seen it but it felt like it, close to the end. But it felt good.”
Car 36, Al Ketbi/Hepperle
“Everything is OK. We are not pushing so we will continue like this.”
Car 40, Smailov/Rusov
“The stages are nice but sometimes they are very busy. But everything is fine.”
Car 41, Fuchs/Mussano
“It’s really nice – I like this stage a lot. I will try to go faster on the second lap.”
Car 48, Al-Kuwari/Duffy
“This was better than the first stage – that one was very bad. It’s not an easy rally – if you push too hard, you can make a mistake.”
Car 50, Gorban/Korsia
“The car is no good… Oil....”
Car 51, Chardonnet/De La Haye
“We are here to do well, so we are pushing a lot on the stage, I see Bryan’s time was better than me. This one felt better than the first stage. We will see how the others are going. It will be a long race.”
Car 52, Gilbert/Galimiche
“The stage is very difficult for us. The last part I went off a little so we will see for the next one.”
Car 53, Fisher/Noble
“We were quickest on the fast stage so we were very pleased with that It was very rough in there and we passed Campedelli in there.”
Car 56, Parli/Canton
“We started very slow on the first stage and now, we are starting to get the feeling with the car and we are going better. I am enjoying it much more now.”
Car 58, Riedmann/Vanneste
“The first stage was OK and this one was not so bad. We are happy to be back in the WRC. In the WRC3, I think we were second.”
Car 59, Bouffier/Panseri
“Already there are rocks in the stage so I am driving around them as I don't want punctures. I am pushing hard but not yet at 100%.”
Car 60, Cronin/Clarke
“That stage was better than the first one – not too bad. Still learning it a bit. We had one badly-made note that caused us a problem – I made it to fast but OK.”
Car 61, Campedelli/Chiarcossi
“I had a puncture after 4 or 5Km and I had to stop and change a wheel.”
Car 73, Kondrakhin/Fappani
“The throttle wire is broken. We will see [if can repair].”
Car 75, Evans/Barrit
“It’s all about learning this morning, finding the pace of the car and build confidence. I’m enjoying it very much. It's a fantastic opportunity.”
Car 76, Aska/Arena
“This stage was much better. I think we lost quite a bit of time and I’m finding my way with the pace notes as I’m still not happy with them. We will learn a lot this weekend.”
Car 77, Ligato/Garcia
“There is something strange with the suspension – I cannot go fast as the car is jumping a lot. I don't have a good feeling to go fast. We must make some changes.”
Car 78, Bresolin/Pollet
“I am happy but the road is very difficult, very hard. I can’t get the feeling with the car and the road.”
Car 79, Barrable/Loudon
“Really enjoying it. We’re settling into a good rhythm, not taking any risks as there’s a long way to go. I just want to get to the finish on our first WRC event.”
Car 81, Moura/Costa
“I have no real problems but I don't feel happy. I don't have a good feeling in the car.”
Car 83, Magalhães/Magalhães
“This is only my second gravel rally in two years so I need to regain my speed. I had very little testing so I am refining the set-up all the time.”
Car 85, Barbosa/Silva
“I am taking it very easy. The stages are very difficult and it is not easy.”
Car 90, Andersson/Emilsson
“It’s so fun and so great to be here. I am grateful to Alex to give us this opportunity. So nice to drive a proper car. Dust was a problem on the first stage – we had three minutes to the previous car and caught him. Here, we had four minutes so not a problem. We made some changes to the car yesterday and we have traction. It's not perfect in the fast stuff but we have traction.”
Car 102, Tidemand/Floene
“The other drivers are going very quick, so I need to push.”
Car 104, Amberg/Lukka
“I have been very close to going off!”
Car 109, Aasen/Engan
“I lost the brakes in the stage and I need to bleed them before the next one.”