Thierry Neuville was 1.4 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier in Castelsardo 2. Neuville is fifth overall.
Latvala comments:  It is quite equal. We had a very hard impact at the front right near the start of the stage and quite a long time I thought something break... I took it quite steady for a while after that before I push on again.
Neuville:  I made some changes on the car, especially the new brakes, I did not lock the brakes in this one. I had a clean run and obviously not so bad.
Amazing second stage victory for Neuville in SS 5 Tergu - Osilo 2. Sebastien Ogier was 0.2 seconds slower, third is Latvala at +1.4 seconds. With this fastest time Neuville moved to fourth overall ahead Dani Sordo.
Neuville after SS 5: It was a good time, I feel very comfortable with the car and with grip. Just fine and I think the engineers have done a good job with the settings. We had a very clean run.
In the longest stage of 31.08 SS 6 Monte Lerno 2 Sebastien Ogier is the fastest one followed by Latvala at +4.3 and Neuville +8.4 seconds. Mads Ostberg lost almost 21 seconds as move one position down while Neuville move to third overall.
Osberg: We had a spin and lost maybe 10 seconds or something on the second to last split.
Neuville:  It's going pretty well, I lose the tyre right into the tarmac section and I had to slow down at the end. I took it carefully in some places.
Ogier:  We have done a good stage, good drive. My natural driving style, I try to be more safe with steering, more progressive.
After the service break in SS 7 Gallura 1 Latvala set the fastest time ahead the second Sebastien Ogier who lost 10.9 seconds in 13.55 km stage.Latvala is at seventh position overall.
Latvala: I came here 2003 and this is exactly the stage that was used that time, I love those stages... Now we have still chance.
Ogier: It was ok, it is much more rough than the other so I was much more safe.
Sordo: It was good, nice stage but difficult and very different. The first part is really difficult narrow with crests and twisty. Very tricky.
Neuville: Quite ok. I took care about the car, it is quite rough, a lot of stones. It was a problem (dust) and I am sure it will be a problem in the night.
The last stage for Day 1 SS 8 Gallura 2 is a disaster for Mads Ostberg who rolled in the stage. Latvala wins the stage followed by Neuville at +5.3 seconds.
Ogier: Really good day, but it is only half of the rally, we have to continue the job tomorrow. Two rally now I have not win, so I want to win again. For sure for us no risk, just finish the day.
Neuville: It was a good day, everything went well except the spin this morning. My car was incredible today and hope we can continue like this tomorrow. I got now three 3rd places and a 2nd place would be nice...
Sordo: To be honest I thought it would be really bad, now we have good lights and we see a lot, it was really nice. We are still there maybe fighting for the podium tomorrow, so we must keep going.
Results after the end of Day 1 SS 8:
1. S. Ogier (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) 1:40:47.3
2. M. Hirvonen (Citroen DS3 WRC) +46.6
3. T. Neuville (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +49.7
4. D. Sordo (Citroen DS3 WRC) +1:19.4
5. J. Latvala (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) +1:44.0
6. A. Mikkelsen (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) +1:55.4
For tomorrow the last rally day there are 8 stages to run.