Kris Meeke has made an impressive start to Rali Vinho Madeira by winning the opening special stage along Funchal’s seafront.
Cheered on by thousands of spectators in baking sunshine, Meeke was three-tenths of a second faster than Bruno Magalhães through the 2.18-kilometre course as Peugeot 207 drivers filled the top two positions.
Jan Kopecký was third fastest in the first of the three factory Škoda Fabias with IRC leader Juho Hänninen fourth and Luca Rossetti fifth in his Abarth Grande Punto.
Freddy Loix, who is nursing an injured left shoulder, was sixth quickest, 2.5s off the pace in his Fabia.
Crews are now heading to overnight parc ferme in the outskirts of Funchal prior. Friday’s action gets underway at 09:01hrs local time and covers 12 stages.
Overall positions after SS1:
| Pos. | Team | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Meeke Kris / Nagle Paul | Peugeot 207 S2000 | 1m37.2s |
| 02 | Magalhaes Bruno / Magalhaes Carlos | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +0.3s |
| 03 | Kopecký Jan / Starý Petr | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +0.7s |
| 04 | Hänninen Juho / Markkula Mikko | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +1.1s |
| 05 | Rossetti Luca / Chiarcossi Matteo | Fiat Grande Punto S2000 | +2.3s |
| 06 | Loix Freddy / Miclotte Fréderic | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +2.5s |
| 07 | Sousa Bernardo / Silva Nuno | Ford Fiesta S2000 | +3.1s |
| 08 | Fontana Corrado / Arena Nicola | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +3.7s |
| 09 | Campos Miguel / Monteiro Aloisio | Ford Fiesta S2000 | +5.0s |
| 10 | Nunes Miguel / Calado Victor | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +5.2s |
| 11 | Sá Vítor / Rodrigues Nuno | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +6.0s |
| 12 | Moura Ricardo / Costa Antonio | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX | +6.6s |
| 13 | Fontana Luigi / Casazza Renzo | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +6.6s |
| 14 | Pascoal Vítor / Castro Mário | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +6.7s |
| 15 | Silva Joăo / Janela José | Renault Clio R3 | +8.4s |