Jari-Matti Latvala defies the elements

Before the start of the first special stages of the day, we knew that a risk of storms and rain was possible. But it was real downpours accompanied by strong gusts of wind (having also caused a few barriers to fly away at the service park) which accompanied the first kilometers in Finland. Nothing to destabilize Jari-Matti Latvala, author of a great start on his favorite roads.

The Finn from Volkswagen signed the first two scratch times of the rally and logically finds himself in the lead with 5″3 ahead of his teammate Sébastien Ogier, author of a small error in SS2. In third position, we find Kris Meeke's Citroën DS3, still in good spirits on the Scandinavian roads. Well placed right in Latvala's wheel in SS1, Meeke lost time in the second sector but retains 3rd place overall with 7″6 behind the leader.

If Juho Hänninen takes an excellent 4th place after two specials with his Hyundai i20, the disappointment comes from the Norwegians Andreas Mikkelsen (Volkswagen) and Mads Ostberg (Citroën) 6th and 7th, but already more than 18″ behind the leader. Ott Tänak is a leader in WRC-2 on his Ford Fiesta.

The competitors will resume the 23,44 km of SS1 in the third timed sector of the day before heading to the Harju super-special, which will begin around 19:30 p.m. French time.