Ott Tanak has taken the early lead in Round 6 of the FIA World Rally Championship in Portugal having topped Thursday night’s super special stage.
Tanak took his Toyota Yaris around the 3.36km Lousada Rallycross Circuit in a time 0.4s faster than the M-Sport Ford pair of Elfyn Evans and Sebastien Ogier, who tied for the second-quickest time.
Kris Meeke was a full second further back in his Citroen, ahead of the Hyundais of Andreas Mikkelsen and Thierry Neuville.
Mikkelsen had run against Tanak and Neuville against Ogier as drivers went head-to-head on the stage.
Dani Sordo is currently eighth while Hayden Paddon, whose Hyundai ride normally alternates with the Spaniard, is 11th.
Jari-Matti Latvala is the last of the factory-run World Rally Cars in 13th after his Yaris stalled in a hairpin.
Secure your spot today.
Day 2 starts tonight at 1815 AEST and features eight stages, with two runs through the same loop of three stages before two street stages in Porto totalling 148.66km.
Meanwhile, M-Sport’s appeal against Ogier’s penalty incurred during Rally Mexico has failed.
The Frenchman therefore still leads the world championship by 10 points.
Rally de Portugal: After Special Stage 1 (Top 10)
| Pos | Num | Driver | Nat | Team | Car | Time/Gap | |
| 1 | 8 | Ott Tanak | EST | Toyota Gazoo | Yaris WRC | 2:34.3 | |
| 2 | 3 | Teemu Suninen | FIN | M-Sport Ford | Fiesta WRC | +0.4 | |
| 3 | 1 | Sebastien Ogier | FRA | M-Sport Ford | Fiesta WRC | +0.4 | |
| 4 | 10 | Kris Meeke | GBR | Citroen | C3 WRC | +1.4 | |
| 5 | 4 | Andreas Mikkelsen | NOR | Hyundai | i20 WRC | +1.4 | |
| 6 | 5 | Thierry Neuville | BEL | Hyundai | i20 WRC | +1.5 | |
| 7 | 2 | Elfyn Evans | GBR | M-Sport Ford | Fiesta WRC | +1.6 | |
| 8 | 16 | Dani Sordo | ESP | Hyundai | i20 WRC | +1.6 | |
| 9 | 12 | Mads Ostberg | NOR | Citroen | C3 WRC | +1.7 | |
| 10 | 9 | Esapekka Lappi | FIN | Toyota Gazoo | Yaris WRC | +1.8 |
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