MIKOLAJKI (POLAND) - Belgium's on-form Thierry Neuville clinched an opening-night lead in his Hyundai after a curtain-raising super special run over 2.5 km at Mikolajki in the Rally of Poland on Thursday.
Belgian driver Thierry Neuville during the Rally of Poland on June 30, 2016 in Mikolajki
Seventh in the world championship standings, Neuville won the last rally in the series at Sardinia three weeks ago and completed this special in 1min 46.2sec.
Norway's Andreas Mikkelsen in a Volkswagen was second at 0.2sec, Estonian Ott Tanak was third for Ford at 0.3sec and defending champion and current runaway leader Sebastien Ogier of France was fourth at 0.4sec.
Stage 1 results:
1. Thierry Neuville-Nicolas Gilsoul (BEL/Hyundai i20) 1:46.2, 2. Andreas Mikkelsen-Anders Jaeger Synnevaag (NOR/VW Polo-R) at 0.2, 3. Ott Tänak-Raigo Molder (EST/Ford Fiesta RS) 0.3, 4. Sébastien Ogier-Julien Ingrassia (FRA/VW Polo-R) 0.4, 5. Jari-Matti Latvala-Mikka Anttila (FIN/VW Polo-R) 0.7, 6. Stéphan Lefebvre- Gabin Moreau (FRA/Citroën DS3) 0.9
Specials: Neuville 1 (ES1)
World championship standings
Drivers
1. Sebastien Ogier (FRA) 132 pts, 2. Dani Sordo (ESP) 68, 3. Andreas Mikkelsen (NOR) 67, 4. Mads Ostberg (NOR) 58, 5. Hayden Paddon (NZL) 57, 6. Jari-Matti Latvala (FIN) 56, 7. Thierry Neuville (BEL) 48, 8. Ott Tänak (EST) 26, 9. Kris Meeke (GBR) 34, 10. Eric Camilli (FRA) 22, 11. Stephane Lefebvre (FRA) 10
Constructors
1. Volkswagen Motorsport, 178 pts, 2. Hyundai Motorsport, 108, 3. M-Sport (Ford), 90, 4. Hyundai Motorsport 2, 76, 5. VW Motorsport 2, 70, 6. Dmack (Ford), 40, 7. Jipocar (Ford), 18