WRC: Ogier takes early Rally GB lead over Tanak

World Rally champion Sebastien Ogier leads Wales Rally GB after Friday morning's opening loop, despite concerns about his Volkswagen's transmission.

In somewhat unexpected damp and foggy conditions, Ogier immediately set the pace on the first stage of the event in his Polo R, going 7.6 seconds faster than anyone else on the Myherin test.

He followed that up with another fastest time on the 2.63-mile Sweet Lamb stage, extending his advantage out beyond 10s, and consolidated his rally lead on the final two parts of the loop – Hafren and Dyfnant – to head to the tire-fitting zone and regroup in Newtown 7.7s clear.

Ogier will not start the afternoon trouble-free, though, after complaining of a transmission niggle on the final stage of the morning.

Teammate Andreas Mikkelsen nursed a driveshaft issue throughout Friday morning, which reared its head more significantly on Dyfnant and cost the Norwegian over a minute on SS4, dropping him well out of contention.

Without a midday service, Ogier has a repeat of the morning loop to negotiate before his car can be checked as he chases a fourth successive win on the event.

Ott Tanak leads the chase in his DMACK Ford Fiesta RS, well clear of a fierce battle for third.

Estonian Tanak was second to Ogier on Myherin and held station on SS2, before becoming the first – and so far only – driver on the rally to beat the four-time champion through a stage, posting the fastest time on SS3 Hafren.

He followed that up with another stage win on Dyfnant, taking another 2.2s out of Ogier's leader.

Behind him, Jari-Matti Latvala in the second Polo R jumped the PH Citroen DS3 of Kris Meeke for third overall, although the pair are separated by just two-tenths ahead of the afternoon loop.

Leading Hyundai driver Hayden Paddon is right with them a further 0.2s back in his i20 WRC, ahead of the second DS3 of Craig Breen.

Breen had run fourth early on – despite suggesting his attempt at Myherin had been the "worst stage I ever drove" – but dropped to sixth after mucking up a junction on SS3.

"I think we can really do something, we just need to be calm," said Breen.

Thierry Neuville was one of a number of drivers early on to really complain about a lack of confidence but ended the afternoon seventh in his Hyundai i20 and, with Mikkelsen's demise, has the opportunity to move into a clear second in the championship.

The third Hyundai of Dani Sordo is eighth, ahead of the M-Sport Fiesta of Mads Ostberg and the ailing Mikkelsen.

LEADING CLASSIFICATION AFTER SS4:

Originally on Autosport.com