Britain’s Kris Meeke tops the time sheets of Rallye Monte-Carlo, the DS3 WRC driver taking the advantage after the first two night tests in the opening day of competition of the first round of the 2016 FIA World Rally Championship. After a spin in stage one, where he lost 4.1 seconds to Sébastien Ogier, Meeke reeled the time back in during the second stage to take a 6.9 second advantage into Friday. Ogier had a trouble-free run through both stages and he heads team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen after this evening's 41.63 kilometres of competition.

It was a long day for the crews as the Championship kicked off with a season opening celebration in Monte-Carlo earlier in the day. Sport and entertainment celebrities joined the contenders for spectacular high-speed World Rally Car passenger rides around the harbour area of Monaco’s famous Grand Prix street circuit. The stunning Casino later provided the backdrop for the start ceremony, the teaser to the opening two stages that brought the crews back to Gap for the overnight halt at midnight.

Friday’s first full day of competition takes in two loops of three stages totalling 116.50 competitive kilometres.

Rallye Monte-Carlo – Unofficial Results after Section 1