Fourmaux sets early pace in Saudi Arabia as Irish pair recover from early puncture

The morning didn't begin well for Irish pair Josh McErlean/Eoin Treacy, who lost in excess of two minutes with a front right wheel puncture on SS2 that dropped their Ford Puma Rally1 to 37th position.

MOTORS: The Irish crew of Josh McErlean/Eoin Treacy (Ford Puma Rally1) in action during the openin leg of Rally Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, the final round of the World Rally Championship. Picture: Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool.

At the end of the first full day of Rally Saudi Arabia, the final and deciding round of the World Rally Championship, a margin of just 6.9 seconds cover the top three drivers as another trio of drivers continue their WRC title quest, albeit and somewhat unusually, at the latter end of the top ten, both groups headed by French drivers.

Up front Adrien Fourmaux (Hyundai i20 Rally1) has a 6s lead over the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 of Finland's Sami Pajari with Latvian Martins Sesks (Ford Puma Rally1) 0.9s further behind in third. In the quest for the WRC Drivers' title, Sebastien Ogier leads the way in seventh, pre-event leader Welsh ace Elfyn Evans (who began the rally three points ahead of Ogier) is 40s behind in ninth with Finland's Kalle Rovanpera sandwiched between them, all three in Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 cars. The Irish duo of Josh McErlean/Eoin Treacy (Ford Puma Rally1) are 12th overnight.