Sebastien Ogier made the early running on Dayinsure Wales Rally GB today (28 October), with the famously unforgiving Welsh roads claiming several high-profile victims over the course of an attrition-fuelled opening leg.
Morning rain rendered the opening pass of stages far more treacherous than expected, throwing competitors an immediate curve ball. With thick mud and visibility at a premium due to fog, first-on-the-road was the place to be and Ogier made full use of it to eke out an advantage over his pursuers, setting the pace on both the Myherin 1 and Sweet Lamb 1 speed tests behind the wheel of his Volkswagen Motorsport Polo R WRC.
Shakedown pace-setter Ott Tänak proved his Thursday form had been no flash in the pan by taking the fight to the recently-crowned champion, however, claiming honours on the first blast through the spectacular Hafren stage - the longest test of the rally and, like several others today, tackled in the opposite direction to 2015.
Aboard his DMACK World Rally Team Ford Fiesta RS WRC, the Estonian continued to reduce the deficit on Dyfnant 1 by speeding to another fastest time, meaning he headed to the midday halt in Newtown just 7.7 seconds adrift of Ogier and 24.6 seconds clear of the Frenchman's team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala, who was leading a close five-way tussle over third.
Following a change of tyres, the crews headed back out into the forests, but if Tänak and co. had designs on further narrowing the gap at the top of the timing screens, Ogier swiftly made them think again. The 32-year-old was in imperious form as he swept three of the four afternoon stages to extend his overnight margin to a commanding 37.3 seconds - a figure somewhat artificially boosted by a puncture for Tänak on the second run through Dyfnant.
Ogier could count his lucky stars, however, that his fortunes did not mirror those of his two VW team-mates. Both Latvala and Andreas Mikkelsen found themselves hobbled by driveshaft failure - the latter as early as stage four, a particular penalty with no midday service - causing them to tumble down the order and conclude Friday's leg placed respectively eighth and 19th. The No.1 Polo was subsequently similarly afflicted - albeit only at the very end of the day, meaning its crew conceded minimal time.
"That was a long day," reflected Ogier, "but it's good to complete it in one piece and in the lead of the rally - especially after our late scare! It was pretty clear that we had the best road position and we made the most of it, but in truth, the conditions were tricky for everybody and the reversed stages felt like discovering the rally all over again.
"Tomorrow will be another tough day, with more than 100km to cover and no midday service or tyre-fitting zone, so we will need to be on our guard throughout."
Closest rival Tänak had troubles of his own, with his puncture compounded by a malfunctioning intercom on Hafren 2 and dramas with the rear of his Fiesta throughout the afternoon loop - although the talented young gun was arguably the star of the day as he defied an unfavourable road position to remain firmly in the hunt.
"I always enjoy this rally," he revealed. "Today was a good day but also a difficult day, with the normal challenges you encounter in Wales added to by a few technical issues that certainly kept us busy! There was a lot of fog on the stages which made it hard to see the end of the bonnet at times, but the car felt good and we have only one approach for tomorrow, which is to keep pushing!"
Behind the leading duo raged a fierce fight for the final spot on the podium, held alternately by Hayden Paddon, home favourite Kris Meeke, the luckless Latvala and ultimately, Thierry Neuville, who became Friday's third different stage winner on Dyfnant 2 to snatch third position from under his rivals' noses.
The Belgian will begin day two just 3.8 seconds ahead of Hyundai team-mate Paddon, with a frustrated Meeke a further two seconds in arrears. Dani Sordo - by his own admission not completely at ease in such changeable conditions - rounds out the overnight top six in the third Hyundai, ahead of Mads Østberg in the best-placed M-Sport entry, Latvala, Stéphane Lefebvre and impressive WRC2 pace-setter Esapekka Lappi.
"I drove my maximum today," mused Meeke. "We know the car's limitations and today's an example of that - we really struggle in these conditions. I couldn't do any more - being so far back on the road, the stages were like ice. We're not here to salvage points; we're here to enjoy ourselves and run competitively, but we're not competitive so far."
There were actually two homegrown heroes in podium contention until the second pass through Myherin, when a roll for Meeke's Abu Dhabi World Rally Team stablemate Craig Breen spelt the end of the day for the young Irishman, but he is confident of returning tomorrow under Rally2 regulations to rejoin the battle in front of the thousands of enthusiastic fans expected to throng the route.
Further down the order, Osian Pryce kept the partisan supporters happy as he tamed the fearsome forests to end the day in 18th overall, sixth in WRC2 and top Welshman. Tony Jardine and Olympic gold medallist Amy Williams occupy 41st position outright in a Mitsubishi Evo, whilst in the supporting WRGB National Rally, Bruce McCombie leads in his Mitsubishi Evo, with multiple British Rally Champion Jimmy McRae 15th in a Vauxhall Magnum - 40 years on from his first Rally GB appearance in the same model of car.
As evening fell, the survivors travelled to Chester as the WRC headed back to the historic English city for the first time in two decades for public interviews and autographs - and judging by the hordes of spectators who lined the streets to cheer on their rallying idols, it was a hugely popular return.
Tomorrow (Saturday) takes place closer to Wales Rally GB's Deeside base and includes the hugely popular, family-friendly RallyFest stage at Cholmondeley Castle - and with further unpredictable conditions forecast, nothing can be taken for granted for any of the contenders. It promises to be unmissable!
