The BP-Ford team played a tactical hand on Friday's final stage; controlling the pace of its WRC crews to shuffle the order of the top five and ensure Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala will start Saturday with advantageous road positions.
Fourth placed Sebastien Loeb was first to arrive at the finish line and seemed resigned to the likelihood of tactical driving from those following.
The Ford team played its first ace with Mikko Hirvonen, who slowed down just before the flying finish to drop 23 behind Loeb and into an eventual position of fifth.
Next to complete was Jari-Matti Latvala, who also slowed near the stage end to drop 1.1sec behind Loeb, a position which would end up as third.
Next up was Gigi-Galli of Ford's satellite Stobart team. Galli went into the stage ahead of Loeb by 10.3 seconds, but also dropped back behind the Frenchman at the finish line. Grinning broadly, Galli feigned surprise at the news that he was now behind Loeb. The Italian will start the second day in fourth place.
Henning Solberg in another Stobart Focus RS was the next Ford driver to complete. He remained behind Loeb - although only by one second - and holds overnight second place.
Petter Solberg is sixth in the remaining Subaru Impreza WRC2008, but said he hoped to improve on the position on Saturday.
Standing After First Stage:
1. Loeb-Elena (Citroën C4 WRC) en 2.02'35"2
2. H.Solberg-Menkerud (Ford Focus RS WRC) à 1"0
3. Latvala-Anttila (Ford Focus RS WRC) à 1"1
4. Galli-Bernacchini (Ford Focus RS WRC) à 2"2
5. Hirvonen-Lehtinen (Ford Focus RS WRC) à 6"9
6. Solberg-Mills (Subaru Impreza WRC) à 49"1
7. Wilson-Martin (Ford Focus RS WRC) à 1'05"9
8. Sordo-Marti (Citroën C4 WRC) à 1'06"8
Etc.
Fourth placed Sebastien Loeb was first to arrive at the finish line and seemed resigned to the likelihood of tactical driving from those following.
The Ford team played its first ace with Mikko Hirvonen, who slowed down just before the flying finish to drop 23 behind Loeb and into an eventual position of fifth.
Next to complete was Jari-Matti Latvala, who also slowed near the stage end to drop 1.1sec behind Loeb, a position which would end up as third.
Next up was Gigi-Galli of Ford's satellite Stobart team. Galli went into the stage ahead of Loeb by 10.3 seconds, but also dropped back behind the Frenchman at the finish line. Grinning broadly, Galli feigned surprise at the news that he was now behind Loeb. The Italian will start the second day in fourth place.
Henning Solberg in another Stobart Focus RS was the next Ford driver to complete. He remained behind Loeb - although only by one second - and holds overnight second place.
Petter Solberg is sixth in the remaining Subaru Impreza WRC2008, but said he hoped to improve on the position on Saturday.
Standing After First Stage:
1. Loeb-Elena (Citroën C4 WRC) en 2.02'35"2
2. H.Solberg-Menkerud (Ford Focus RS WRC) à 1"0
3. Latvala-Anttila (Ford Focus RS WRC) à 1"1
4. Galli-Bernacchini (Ford Focus RS WRC) à 2"2
5. Hirvonen-Lehtinen (Ford Focus RS WRC) à 6"9
6. Solberg-Mills (Subaru Impreza WRC) à 49"1
7. Wilson-Martin (Ford Focus RS WRC) à 1'05"9
8. Sordo-Marti (Citroën C4 WRC) à 1'06"8
Etc.