Bryan Bouffier stole the show after snow, ice and rain produced some shock results after the opening six stages of the Monte Carlo Rally.
Bouffier, the Hyundai World Rally Team test driver, gave the WRC newcomers some consolation after the Korean manufacturer saw both of its i20s forced to retire.
The Frenchman Bouffier, driving a hired M-Sport Ford Fiesta RS, emerged with an unlikely 38.8s lead over Citroen’s Kris Meeke with Robert Kubica (M-Sport Ford Fiesta) 39.5s back in third place.
Bouffier had a lucky escape at the beginning of the opening stage after going through on slick tyres.
“We hit a wall at the beginning of the first stage and I really thought that my race was finished,” Bouffier said.
“Thankfully, the car is very strong. We went through the first stage on slick tyres, which was the same for most of the drivers.
“I admit that it wasn’t so fun in those conditions, but our time wasn’t so bad.”
Reigning world champion Sebastien Ogier was fourth, spotting Bouffier 47.3s, after he had a brush with the wall on the opening special stage and later sliding wide, lucky to escape rolling off the road on the Col de Perty run.
Hyundai’s rally ended prematurely with its #1 driver Thierry Neuville crashing the i20 after slipping up on a section of ice, less than halfway through the 25.49km opening stage.
The car sustained heavy damage to the right rear when it slammed into a pole with Neuville admitting he had been pushing hard in fifth gear.
Later Dani Sordo, who capitalised on his choice of Michelin snow tyres, had moved into third position after the first three stages but after a strong run again on the next stage he could not fire the #8 Hyundai up to start the fifth stage. Sordo exited with suspected electrical problems.
Hyundai team boss Michel Nandan remained philosophical after a tough initiation beset the fledgling team.
“Dani did very well on stage four. It was a really good time and just for that we are a bit more relaxed,” Nandan said.
“We know there is still a lot to do on the car and the suspension and the engine but at least we are not really far from the best cars.”
Neuville, who has signed a three-year contract to move from M-Sport to head up the Hyundai Shell World Rally Team, said he remained cautious in the knowledge there was full ice sheeting the road on the opening stage.
“I saw that Ogier had hit the wall before I started and I was cautious,” Neuville said.
“I knew I had to calm down because it would be easy to do a mistake.
“But then we had a good rhythm and were comfortable with a long straight line going into two small right handers and the first one I just understeered and the road was a bit bumpy.
“Then I went to go left and then the rear hit the wall.”
Mads Ostberg had a solid start to the rally for the Citroen team finishing fifth overall with Elfyn Evans (M-Sport) next ahead of Jari-Matti Latvala.
Top 10 after first six stages
| 1 | Bryan Bouffier | M-Sport Ford | 1h25m36.6s |
| 2 | Kris Meeke | Citroen | +38.8 |
| 3 | Robert Kubica | M-Sport Ford | +39.5 |
| 4 | Sebastien Ogier | Volkswagen | +47.3 |
| 5 | Mads Ostberg | Citroen | +1:20.7 |
| 6 | Elfyn Evans | M-Sport Ford | +1:38.6 |
| 7 | Jari-Matti Latvala | Volkswagen | +2:20.8 |
| 8 | Mikko Hirvonen | M-Sport Ford | +2:46.9 |
| 9 | Andreas Mikkelsen | Volkswagen | +4:06.2 |
| 10 | Olivier Burri | Burri Ford (WRC 2) | +4:47.4 |
