Latvala leads in France as Ogier suffers problems

Jari-Matti Latvala has a handy lead at Rallye de France after a strong day where he also benefited from the demise of Volkswagen team-mate and World Championship leader Sebastien Ogier.

Latvala won four of the seven special stages to head his other VW stable mate Andreas Mikkelsen by 8.2sec.

The Finn, who has not won a WRC event on tarmac, led after the opening test in the Vosges mountains outside Strasbourg. Mikkelsen fought back to lead briefly, but Latvala pulled clear in the afternoon.

“It’s my dream to win an asphalt rally and today was a good day towards that. The performance this morning was a little bit low, but in the afternoon it went well. Andreas is pushing me so tomorrow I need to drive in the same way,” said Latvala.

Mikkelsen finished 14.9sec ahead of Kris Meeke’s Citroen DS3 in third, but as good as it was for the leading trio, it was in contrast to Ogier’s day.

He spun early in SS2 before a faulty gearbox sensor caused his Polo R’s engine to cut out. Ogier lost 4min 30sec but was then hit with a four-minute penalty when co-driver Julien Ingrassia checked them into the following stage early as they battled to resolve the issue.

A broken front left shock absorber further delayed the pair this afternoon and their hopes of securing a second consecutive drivers’ title this weekend appear to be over.

Dani Sordo is fourth in his Hyundai i20, with Mads Ostberg fifth (Citroen) despite an afternoon transmission problem.

Elfyn Evans sits 10th, but he was the hard luck story after sitting fourth when his car’s alternator failed en route to lunchtime service and he and co-driver Dan Barritt pushed the Fiesta into the time control. They incurred a 1min 40sec penalty for late arrival.

Tomorrow’s second leg is the longest with 125.50km of competition.

VIDEO: Morning stages

VIDEO: Afternoon stages

 POSITIONS: End of Day 1 – Rallye de France