The world's leading rally drivers treated fans to an awe-inspiring display of high-speed thrills and spectacular sideways slides through the legendary north Wales forests today (5 October), as spectators celebrated the coronation of a homegrown British champion on the first full day of Dayinsure Wales Rally GB.

Following last night's short, sharp blast through the Visit Conwy Tir Prince curtain-raiser, the FIA World Rally Championship crews renewed battle with a vengeance today, tackling eight speed tests totalling almost 70 competitive miles.

From the fast, smooth challenge of Clocaenog to the picture postcard Brenig, the bumps and jumps of Penmachno's 'Cresta Run' and the new, fan-friendly, multi-surface Slate Mountain test high up in Snowdonia, the action was fast-and-frantic right from the outset.

Car parks rapidly filled to capacity as spectators poured into the stages, with the new-generation, 380bhp, four-wheel-drive turbocharged World Rally Cars putting on an exhilarating show, kicking up gravel in their wake as flames fired from the exhausts.

History was made on Brenig and Penmachno as closed British roads were used for the first time in World Championship motor sport, creating fresh challenges for competitors and serving as a precursor to Sunday's eagerly-anticipated, ground-breaking Llandudno Great Orme Street Stage.

The WRC's form man, Toyota's Ott Tänak, maintained his recent momentum as he set a blistering pace, winning five of the eight stages to hold a lead of just shy of half-a-minute going into tomorrow (Saturday), as the Estonian chases a fourth consecutive victory in his bid to close down the gap on World Championship leader Thierry Neuville.

"It's been a very good day," he acknowledged. "The performance has been strong and we look to be in a good position, but there's still a long way to go so it's vital that we stay focussed. I think everybody likes tomorrow's stages; they're real rallying classics - very fast and flowing and they should suit the Toyota well. I'm looking forward to the fight."

Belgium's Neuville is embroiled in a fierce squabble for the runner-up spoils, with less than ten seconds blanketing his Hyundai, the Toyotas of Jari-Matti Latvala and Esapekka Lappi and the Ford of defending World Champion Sébastien Ogier - setting the scene for a no-holds-barred Saturday scrap.

Local hero Elfyn Evans should have been part of that battle. The Welshman - who hails from nearby Dolgellau - was running an excellent second, within ten seconds of Tänak when the engine in his Ford Fiesta picked up a misfire on a road section, forcing him out of contention. The M-Sport ace - who won the event last year - will be hoping to return tomorrow.

"Things were looking pretty good," Evans reflected. "We were keeping Ott [Tänak] honest - never more than a few seconds adrift of the lead in challenging conditions - and we were looking forward to keeping the pressure on this afternoon but unfortunately we never got that chance.

"We're aiming to rejoin tomorrow, when the plan will be to push hard and really enjoy the amazing mid Wales stages - proper drivers' roads - and I want to see as many Welsh flags out there lining the stages as possible!"

Elsewhere, there was better news for home fans as Llandudno-based Matt Edwards popularly clinched the Prestone MSA British Rally Championship. Now the pressure is off his back, the Welshman will go out all guns blazing to sign off the season in style with a fourth triumph of 2018 in the weekend's concluding round.

Just outside of the overall top ten, a trio of hard-charging Brits fill positions 12 to 14, with Gus Greensmith sitting third in the supporting WRC2 class, just ahead of rapid privateer Tom Cave and former British Champion David Bogie, who won the first of the weekend's two BRC rounds in his Skoda Fabia.

Tomorrow, the action moves to mid Wales and some of the most classic speed tests on the WRC calendar for the gruelling 'Super Saturday' schedule, with the likes of Myherin, Sweet Lamb, Hafren, Dyfi and Gartheiniog sure to shake up the order and spring a surprise or two.

Sunday morning sees two forest tests in scenic Snowdonia, before the thrilling finale on the streets of Llandudno. In Visit Wales' 'Year of the Sea', crews will race around the iconic Great Orme and then onto the closed streets of Llandudno. The flying finish will be on the resort's famous seafront, before the winners are crowned on the Promenade.