Leader at the end of the first loop, Thierry Neuville lost around ten seconds and confidence (especially with only one spare wheel) by puncturing in the fifth special. This allowed his Welsh rival to take the lead temporarily at the end of the 7th special. But the Hyundai driver recovered his property in a final push, the regulations stipulating that the author of the best time in the initial special is considered the leader in the event of a tie. Which means that Thierry Neuville will start 8th this Saturday, just behind Elfyn Evans and Sébastien Ogier back at 6.6 thanks to a great time in the final special of the day.
“Honestly, I didn't have a good daygrimaced our compatriot at the end of this first stage. There was a lot of dust and cleaning even being first on the road. And I couldn't avoid a puncture. So I wasn't able to take advantage of my advantage enough.”
He will have to doubly spit in his hands and cross his fingers to avoid punctures this Saturday in the “construction site” awaiting the three drivers playing for victory, Ott Tanak occupying 4th place at 41.1 and Adrien Fourmaux 5th at 52.7.
It will be quite the opposite for Grégoire Munster. Eighth at more than three minutes, the Ford driver enjoyed this Friday, but will have an easier time by exchanging his position with that of Thierry Neuville, or by opening the road this Saturday morning.
The ranking at the end of the first stage: 1. NEUVILLE-WYDAEGHE (BEL/Hyundai i20 WRC1) in 1h05.15.3; 2. Evans-Martin (GB/Toyota Yaris WRC1) at 0.0; 3. Ogier-Landais (Fra/Toyota Yaris WRC1) at 6.6; 4. Tanak-Jarveoja (East/Hyundai I20 WRC1) at 41.1; 5. Fourmaux-Coria (Fra/Ford Puma WRC1) at 52.7; 6. Katsuta-Johnston (Jap/Toyota Yaris WRC1) at 1.37.8; 7. Mikkelsen-Eriksen (Nor/Hyundai i20 WRC1) at 2.37.8; 8. MUNSTER-LOUKA (BEL/Ford Puma WRC1) at 3.07.3
