The four way fight for the lead of Rally Japan got off to a thrilling start on Sunday’s opening stage, with Sebastien Ogier leaping ahead of Mikko Hirvonen into second place.
Ogier was 3.3sec quicker than Hirvonen through the short Bisan stage, to move back into the position he gave up on Saturday’s SS16. At the stage end Hirvonen reported a small issue with his Ford’s gear change.
Petter Solberg was 2.6sec slower than Ogier on the stage but held on to the overall lead - by 2.8sec - and declared himself satisfied with his performance.
Kimi Raikkonen’s first Rally Japan came to a premature end half way through the stage. Kimi misheard a pace note and his Citroen C4 WRC slid wide and off the road. The car was totally undamaged, but with no spectators around to push him back he was forced to retire. He had been in eighth place.