World champion Sebastien Ogier made the perfect start to the Rally of Catalonia on Thursday as he was fastest in special stage one in Barcelona.
The Frenchman finished the near three kilometre route in 3min 37.8sec, a full 2.1 seconds ahead of Belgium’s Thierry Neuville and Norway’s Andreas Mikkelsen.
Ogier wrapped up his third consecutive title with three races to spare at the Rally of Australia last month, but finished down in 15th at his home rally in Corsica last time out.
“It’s good to start this way but I remember in Corsica we started like this and then it didn’t go so well,” said Ogier.
“The real start is tomorrow. I’m happy it was a clean drive. Now I’m looking forward to tomorrow. I’m going to go for it.”