Sebastien Loeb, who claimed his ninth successive world drivers title on home ground in France a fortnight ago, led the Rally of Italy in Sardinia after Thursday’s opening two specials.
The French Citroen driver posted the fastest time in the second stage with Ford’s Finnish driver Jari-Mati Latvala winning the morning opener but then losing time with a puncture.
Loeb leads by one second from his Finnish teammate, Mikko Hirvonen.