Rallying: Sebastien Ogier leads in Sardinia

France’s driver Sebastian Ogier looks on near his Volkswagen Polo WRC, during the opening ceremony of the FIA World Rally Championship of Italy in Sassari, on the Italian island of Sardinia

World championship leader Sebastien Ogier dominated the opening day of the Rally of Sardinia on Friday, taking his Volkswagen Polo into a 46.6sec lead over Citroen’s Mikko Hirvonen.

“I came here with the motivation to win because it’s two rallies since I had a win and I want that feeling again,” said the French driver.

“But only half the rally has gone so we have to make sure we complete the job tomorrow.”

Ogier won the first three of the day’s eight stages while he also took advantage of title rival and teammate Jari-Matti Latvala suffering a puncture.

Latvala, who is 52 points behind Ogier in the championship standings, lost two minutes while repairs were carried out.

“I don’t know exactly where it happened, but suddenly it just felt like a tyre was flat under braking,” said the Finn.

“I don’t have a clear idea of what happened, at first I thought it was the right tyre because I knew I had hit a stone.”

Latvala, the winner in Greece last time out, still managed to win the second, seventh and eighth stages before finishing the day in fifth place, 1min 44sec off the lead.

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