Tokyo, Nov 10 – French driver Sebastien Ogier (Toyota), eight-time world rally champion, became the first leader this Thursday in Aichi (Japan), the scene of the last round of the championship, by winning the the only stage of the day with a tenth advantage over Irishman Craig Breen (Ford).
The Finn Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota), with the world title secured for weeks, was fifth fastest in this first contact with the Japanese rally, 6 tenths behind his teammate Ogier.
Winner of the Rally of Spain in Catalonia, Ogier has transferred his good moment to Japan, winning, at the wheel of his Yaris Rally1 and with his new co-driver, Vincent Landais, the opening night special on a route of 2.75 km in the surroundings from Nagoya.
“It’s been an intense recce and Vincent is doing a good job so far. He’s also been a good test tonight, but the big thing starts tomorrow,” commented Ogier.
Estonian Ott Tänak, third 2 tenths behind Ogier, was the best of the Hyundai team, one tenth faster than Belgian Thierry Neuville. The third driver of the South Korean team, the Spanish Dani Sordo, obtained the ninth fastest time, 3.1 seconds from the fastest.