Eyvind Brynildsen tops the flat-out gravel battle in a Pirelli-equipped Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, albeit by a slender margin of 5.1sec after the opening nine gravel stages.

Hankook-supported home hero Isak Reiersen is second at the wheel of a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 with Roope Korhonen demoting fellow MRF-shod driver Frank Tore Larsen on the day’s closing stage, which took place in increasingly wet conditions.

“It’s been a fantastic day, I’ve enjoyed it so much,” said Norwegian driver Brynildsen. “I can hardly believe it myself to be leading the first day but let’s see tomorrow, it’s a long day.”

Tenth overall after Thursday evening’s Bråtebäcken super special, Reiersen was quickest on the rain-hit SS2, Grönlund, to shoot up to third overall aboard his Hankook-equipped Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, 1.5sec behind new leader Eyvind Brynildsen.

And after posting the quickest time again through SS3, Värmskog, which was also held in wet conditions, the Karlstad-based Reiersen moved into first place by 0.5sec with Brynildsen slipping to second after he reported misjudging a junction.

However, Brynildsen managed to nibble away at the Swede’s advantage across the second pass of the morning stages, to end the loop with a 1.2sec margin over Michelin-equipped Citroën C3 Rally2 driver Mads Østberg.

It would get better for Brynildsen during the mainly dry afternoon loop, which included the Norwegian banking his first fastest time on SS8 to become one of eight different stage winners across the opening leg’s nine stages.

ERC Staff House Rally Hungary winner Korhonen was in fourth prior to SS8 after a day spent getting the set-up of his Toyota to his liking on unfamiliar roads. But with the rain increasing on SS9, the Finn benefited from his earlier – and drier – road position to demote Larsen for third by 1.8sec and move to within 1.7sec of Reiersen.

Andrea Mabellini is fifth after he was slowed by a damaged front-right tyre through SS2 with European championship points leader Miko Marczyk sixth and Junior ERC champion Mille Johansson seventh.

There was heartbreak for Mads Østberg when the Norwegian dropped out of the podium fight after he completed 11 kilometres of SS8 with a damaged right-rear tyre on his Citroën. Østberg, who is being co-driven by Lucas Karlsson for the first time, had started the stage 3.0sec off the lead but completes leg one 40.1sec behind leader Brynildsen.

“I’m hugely disappointed but it’s like that, nothing to do,” said Østberg, who leapt a rally-best 43 metres over the Colin’s Crest jump on SS9. “It can happen to anyone, unfortunately it happens a lot to me.”

Simone Tempestini is ninth having been slowed by a damaged wheel on SS5. Stéphane Lefebvre, Jakub Matulka and Jon Armstrong are next up with ERC newcomer Tommi Jylhä 13th followed by FIA ERC3 leading duo Tymek Abramowski and Adrian Rzežnik.

Having gone quickest on SS4, Armstrong started SS5 with high hopes of making more progress in his bid for a first ERC podium of the season. But 3.2 kilometres from the stage start, the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team was forced to stop to change a damaged front-right tyre, dropping him out of contention.

Qualifying Stage winner Philip Allen was fifth overall after four stages only to go off the road on a slippery Tarmac section 8.2 kilometres into SS5.

Junior ERC graduate Max McRae was in a points-paying 12th overall after three stages when trouble struck, a tyre deflation causing the Scot to go off the road on a fast right-hander, which left his Citroën with a damaged front-left driveshaft and suspension.

Jos Verstappen was leading the Master ERC category after eight stages only to roll into retirement on the second Colins run. The ex-Formula One driver was 6.8 kilometres from the start of the 9.01-kilometre test when he slid wide on a left-hand corner and overturned.

The Dutchman’s misfortune handed the Master ERC initiative back to Henning Solberg, who had been ahead prior to picking up a two-minute time penalty for a tyre regulation breach. Kowax DST Racing’s Martin Vlček is second behind Solberg with Sasa Ollé in third.

Eight stages over a timed distance of 92.24 kilometres are in store on tomorrow’s deciding leg of BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia with the 11.32 kilometres of Ängebäckstorp up first from 07:18 local time.