Ogier takes early lead in Germany

Sebastien Ogier has once again had a string start to a World Rally Championship event, holding the lead at ADAC Rallye Deutschland.

The Volkswagen driver is 5.7sec ahead of team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala after the opening two stages in the countryside south of Cologne.

“I think the first stage was hard for everyone because there was no grip, but the second stage was much better and I had more fun,” said Ogier who won both stages.

“Okay, not a bad start but it’s just the beginning. The real rally starts tomorrow.”

Third quickest is Ford driver Thierry Neuville of the Qatar World Rally Team with Citroen’s Dani Sordo in fourth.

In the WRC 2 category, Robert Kubica was fastest on both stages to open a 14.9sec lead in his Citroen DS3 RRC over Elfyn Evans. Evans’ Fiesta R5 is 8.3sec clear of local Sepp Wiegand in a Skoda Fabia S2000. Kiwi Hayden Paddon is back in sixth after technical issues with his Skoda.

“Not the best way to start the rally, losing the power steering only two kilometres into the first 23km stage, but we are still going and still in the fight,” said Paddon.

“Losing 1min40sec does make it more difficult but we enjoy a comeback and we are feeling positive for a big push tomorrow. It’s still on!”

POSITIONS: After SS2 – ADAC Rallye Deutschland

*WRC2