Sebastien Ogier is the overnight leader after the opening stage of Rally Argentina through the streets of Cordoba.
Ogier set the pace by 0.9s under the night sky on the 1.75km super special stage, ahead of Hyundai's Dani Sordo and M-Sport's Elfyn Evans, who tied for second.
“I tried to push and I'm quite happy with my driving in there,” said Ogier.
Sordo and Evans had held the lead prior to the M-Sport Ford Fiesta driver's effort on the mixed asphalt/gravel surface.
Hyundai's Thierry Neuville was 1.7s off the pace in fourth position after an error at the first corner.
Jari-Matti Latvala was the top Toyota runner in fifth, while Kiwi Hayden Paddon finished seventh.
Day 2 action in Round 5 of the World Rally Championship features two loops through the Calamuchita Valley totalling 140.56km, each finishing with a super special stage at a theme park.
Positions: Rally Argentina: Day 1
Pos. | Driver | Car | Time/Gap |
1 | Sebastien Ogier | Ford Fiesta WRC '17 | 1:53.8 |
2 | Elfyn Evans | Ford Fiesta WRC '17 | +0.9 |
3 | Dani Sordo | Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | +0.9 |
4 | Thierry Neuville | Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | +1.6 |
5 | Jari-Matti Latvala | Toyota Yaris WRC | +2.1 |
6 | Mads Ostberg | Ford Fiesta WRC '17 | +2.4 |
7 | Hayden Paddon | Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | +2.5 |
8 | Kris Meeke | Citroen C3 WRC | +2.7 |
9 | Ott Tanak | Ford Fiesta WRC '17 | +3.1 |
10 | Juho Hanninen | Toyota Yaris WRC | +3.8 |