Finland’s Marcus Grönholm has dominated the opening leg of the Neste Oil Rally Finland, the Ford driver taking the overnight lead on home territory. Team-mate Mikko Hirvonen was his early challenger, but Grönholm’s fellow countryman dropped from second to third this afternoon and the Finns now sandwich series leader Sébastien Loeb at the end of the first day of competition.

Rally Finland, the 10th round of the FIA World Rally Championship, is one of the most famous on the calendar and characterised by breathtaking speeds and stomach-churning jumps. The specialised nature of the event favours the locals and a win by a Finn would mark the country’s 50th victory in the event’s 56 year history.

Citroën Xsara driver Sébastien Loeb claimed victory in last night’s opening super special stage, but it was Grönholm who set the pace in the forests this morning. The Finn won the first three stages of the day to pull out a 16.6 second advantage over arch rival Loeb, but the Frenchman then clawed back time in the following stages to close the gap to 12 seconds after nine stages and 146 competitive kilometres. Between them, the duo shared all the stage victories today and look set for another furious battle during the second leg.

Mikko Hirvonen ran well this morning, but admitted to over-driving each corner this afternoon, losing him grip and time. Despite dropping to third overnight, the Finn is still within striking distance and remains in a fight with Loeb ahead and Norwegian Petter Solberg behind. The Subaru driver is much more comfortable with the Impreza on this event and holds fourth with brother Henning Solberg (Peugeot 307 WRC) a distant fifth. Chris Atkinson, in the second Subaru, is sixth, dropping from fifth after going off the road in SS7.

Neste Oil Rally Finland – Results after Leg 1
 

1. Marcus Grönholm/Timo Rautiainen		Ford Focus RS WRC	1 hr 12 min 59.6sec
2. Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena		Citroën Xsara WRC	1 hr 13 min 11.6sec
3. Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen		Ford Focus RS WRC	1 hr 13 min 43.1sec
4. Petter Solberg/Phil Mills		Subaru Impreza WRC	1 hr 13 min 52.5sec
5. Henning Solberg/Cato Menkerud		Peugeot 307 WRC	1 hr 14 min 46.8sec
6. Chris Atkinson/Glenn Macneall		Subaru Impreza WRC	1 hr 15 min 16.7sec

 
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