Pre-event favourite Gilles Panizzi lived up to expectations by taking fastest time on both opening stages of the Tour de Corse in the Rally of France today.
The Frenchman, in a Peugeot, is only 5.5 seconds ahead of team-mate Marcus Gronholm with the Finn belying his pre-rally prediction he would not challenge for the win.
Gronholm quickened on the second stage to edge ahead of Subaru's Norwegian driver, Petter Solberg.
Philippe Bugalski - driving a privately-entered Citroen - had been tipped to challenge asphalt expert Panizzi. But he finished the first special stage from Cuttoli to Peri over half a minute down and was only eighth fastest on the second.
Four-time world champion Tommi Makinen made a basic error on the opening stage having failed to notice the 2002 version of the stage was 200 metres longer than last year.
When his pace notes ran out before the end of the stage, he found himself driving blind for the last part, unaware of how much was left.
Britain's world champion Richard Burns lies fourth after the first pair of stages with Colin McRae seventh and younger brother Alister just outside the top 10 in 14th.
The longest stage of the event, 36.73 kilometres, is still to come.
PA