Norway’s Mads Ostberg, in a Citroen, led the Rally of Mexico after Friday’s opening five stages, relegating world champion Sebastien Ogier in a Volkswagen into second spot.
Ostberg has a three-second advantage over the Frenchman while Finland’s Mikko Hirvonen is 11 seconds off the pace in a Ford Fiesta in third spot.
Ogier, who went into the race in second place in the world championship behind Volkswagen teammate Jari-Matti Latvala, won the opening two stages of the day.
But Ostberg prevailed on the third and fourth stages, the longest of the day, before Ogier took took the fifth.
“It’s my first rally on this surface in the Citroen DS3 but I had a good feeling on the first stage and I understood what I had to do to make the most of it,” said Ostberg.
Twelve months ago, the Norwegian had put Ogier under huge pressure in Mexico when he was with Ford before electrical problems forced him to retire.