Thank you for following the first day of the Tour de Corse on AUTOhebdo.fr and see you tomorrow morning at 8:40 a.m. for the live commentary of the second stage which will begin with the La Porta-Valle di Rostino 1 time trial (48,71 km) .

Nicolas Ciamin is heading for the Junior WRC scratch on this SS4, with a 0″ lead over Nil Solans. The latter remains a solid leader in the category with 7″40 ahead of Terry Folb and 1″43 over Ciamin.

Stéphane Sarrazin (Skoda) failed 4″6 behind Mikkelsen on this SS4, and was 20″5 behind the Norwegian in the general classification of the event. In the specific WRC-2 classification, Mikkelsen is ahead of Teemu Suninen by 1’10” and Yoahn Rossel (Citroën DS2 R00) by 6’3”5.

Before the arrival of Stéphane Sarrazin (Skoda), Mikkelsen (Skoda) set the best time in WRC-2, 10”1 ahead of Teemu Suninen (Ford). Pierre-Louis Loubet (Ford) follows at 18″0 and is ahead of Yohan Rossel (Citroën DS3 R5) by 2″2. Ole Christian Veiby (Skoda) is in provisional fifth place in the SS, 24” behind Mikkelsen.

Thanks to a third scratch in four contested stages, Kris Meeke (Citroën) completed the first stage of the 2017 Tour de Corse with a 10″ lead over Sébastien Ogier (Ford Fiesta). The provisional podium for the event is completed by the Hyundai i3 of Thierry Neuville, which is 20″15 behind and remains in ambush behind the leading duo.

Craig Breen (Citroën) took advantage of SS4 to take fourth place at the expense of Dani Sordo (Hyundai), the two drivers being only separated by 1″4. Jari-Matti Latvala (Toyota) is in sixth place ahead of Hayden Paddon (Hyundai) and Stéphane Lefebvre (Citroën).

In WRC-2, Andreas Mikkelsen (Skoda) still leads the category despite a spin in this final sector.

Still the victim of power steering problems, Jan Kopecky (Skoda) lost even more than 2'20" on this ES on the reference time. Teemu Suninen (Ford) concedes 10″1 on Mikkelsen’s best time in WRC-2. Mikkelsen and Suninen lead the category peloton on the evening of this first day, not counting Stéphane Sarrazin (Skoda) who does not score points in the championship.

Solid leader in WRC-2, Andreas Mikkelsen (Skoda) finished in 19’02”9, despite a spin. “I spun in a hairpin on the right. I have slightly different settings on this rally, and that can make spins easier. But that was the only negative point today. »

Stéphane Lefebvre (Citroën) sets the eighth provisional time of SS4 and maintains his eighth place overall. The Frenchman admits that he sometimes attacks too much when entering a corner and suffers from understeer.

Elfyn Evans' difficult day ends. The Briton was largely slowed down in his momentum by hydraulic problems on his Ford Fiesta, and still conceded almost 2′ in this SS4. Hayden Paddon (Hyundai) sets the 7th provisional time of the special, 15″ behind Meeke.

Fourth provisional time for Craig Breen (Citroën). “We had a bit of trouble with the tires after the first stage and that disrupted my plan for the last stage. But I'm not a million miles from the podium, so it's a good day. »

“Both stages were difficult this afternoon with a lot of traps. But you have to be wary of Seb because he never gives up. I am comfortable with my pace. Let's see what tomorrow brings. » admits the leader of the Tour de Corse.

Neuville (Hyundai) failed 1″ behind Ogier on this SS4 and was 15″5 behind the quadruple world champion at the end of this first day. Without placing the i20 WRC at the forefront, the Belgian remains in ambush for the Meeke – Ogier duo. “I feel like we are at the limit everywhere. We're too close and we need to calm down a little. »

Dani Sordo (Hyundai) finished his stage with a time 12″ behind Sébastien Ogier, 2″1 behind Latvala. “It was a difficult day but I am happy with my performance. We'll try to have a little fun with this car and we'll see tomorrow. »

Kris Meeke (Citroën) increases the pace in the second part of the SS. the Briton is 1″9 ahead of Ogier at the halfway mark.

9″9 conceded by Latvala on this final SS of the day. The Toyota driver finished 49″9 behind Ogier after four stages.

“Let’s wait and see where we are at the end of the day.” We should be in second place, so it's not a bad day. ES by ES, the feeling improves. » admits Ogier.

Sébastien Ogier (Ford) finishes this first day. 18’22″6 for the Frenchman who improved his time compared to the first passage by almost three seconds.

Meeke (Citroën) comes within 0″1 of Ogier’s time in the first part of this SS4. The Briton had an 8″1 lead overall over the Frenchman before this last special on Friday.