Ogier pips Meeke on Finland opener

Heavy rain through the afternoon meant damp conditions at first for the 1.4-mile street and parkland stage, which was mostly asphalt with only small gravel sections.

The rain had stopped by the time the World Rally Car field started, though some parts never entirely dried out.

Ogier still felt running last was beneficial for him as he took his Volkswagen to the fastest time by six tenths of a second over Kris Meeke's Citroen.

Andreas Mikkelsen completed the top three for VW.

Robert Kubica had been the pacesetter for a long while, despite suspecting that others would soon demote him as the road dried for them. Fourth place overnight - ahead of last year's winner Jari-Matti Latvala - will be a surprise for the ex-Formula 1 racer.

Hyundai successfully rebuilt Thierry Neuville's car after his shakedown crash, in which he felled a tree.

The Belgian was his team's fastest runner in eighth.

Rally Poland podium finisher Ott Tanak was only 10th for M-Sport.