The nine-time world champion benefitted from an advantageous road position on the dusty gravel stages, but once again showed his class to win all three stages of the morning loop. The 48-year-old, partnered by Isabelle Galmiche, became the oldest driver to lead a WRC event eclipsing the record perviously held by 1979 world champion Bjorn Waldegard set in 1991.
Sitting seventh overnight, the M-Sport driver has climbed into a 6.4s lead over Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville, who won last night’s super special played out in front of 64,500 spectators inside Athens’ Olympic Stadium.
M-Sport’s Pierre-Louis Loubet ended the morning third, 8.0s adrift, but 0.9s ahead of Toyota’s Esapekka Lappi, with Hyundai’s Ott Tanak fifth. The top 10 was completed by Dani Sordo (Hyundai), Elfyn Evans (Toyota), Gus Greensmith (M-Sport-Ford), championship leader Kalle Rovanpera (Toyota) and Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota).
Following Thursday night’s curtain raiser, the rally moved to the traditional gravel stages held in the mountains to north west of the capital city.
It didn’t take long for the dust to cause havoc as three minute gaps between cars contributed to limited visibility.
However, it was Loeb, who made the most of his road position and experience to win the day’s opening stage, taking the overall rally lead in the process.
The M-Sport driver managed to pip his French Ford teammate Loubet by 0.8s, while title rivals Tanak and Rovanpera were third and a fourth fastest respectively, having faced the worst of the road conditions.
While Rovanpera enjoyed no issues with visibility being first on the road, he struggled as road sweeper, and with the handling of his Toyota, leaving him 2.6s adrift.
Neuville was fifth fastest, dropping three seconds in the process but was angered by the dust hanging in the air.
“We have no visibility. Suddenly it is fifth gear and full flat out and you see nothing and you don’t know where you are. It is unbelievable,” said Neuville.
“We ask for more minutes [between cars], we knew the sun was low, we knew there was dust, we knew there was no wind and nobody gives a shit.”
Thierry Neuville was fuming at the small gaps between cars, which created a dust problem.
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
M-Sport’s Craig Breen completed the stage sixth quickest ahead of Evans, before a small fire broke out at the rear if his Puma at stage end, which was quickly extinguished.
Officials made the decision…
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