After more than a year away from the WRC, Ott Tanak posted fastest time on the second pass through Kirkener - only his fifth stage back at the top level.
The Estonian was quickest by 0.5sec in a Ford Fiesta RS, depriving Thierry Neuville of what looked as if it was going to be Hyundai’s first stage win for the new i20 car.
“We did some very small mistakes but I have such a good feeling. I’m just getting going!” promised Tanak.
Andreas Mikkelsen maintained the pressure on Volkswagen colleague Sebastien Ogier at the head of the leaderboard with third fastest time, 1.4sec further back. He narrowed the gap to just 0.5sec and there could have been a change of leader had Mikkelsen not made a slight error.
“I went wide into a corner and it dragged the front of the car into the loose stuff. My mistake,” he admitted.