MONTE CARLO, Monaco - Bryan Bouffier snatched the lead in the first event of the 2014 World Rally championship after Volkswagen's Sebastien Ogier blundered on tyre choice.
Ford Fiesta driver Bouffier, 2011 winner in the principality, leads Meeke (Citroen) with ex-Formula 1 star Robert Kubica (Ford) third.
VIDEO: Ogier hits wall on Monte Rally
Ogier paid a price for a poor tyre choice on the morning stages but had risen to fourth from ninth by the end of the first day in his VW Polo.
‘I THOUGHT OUR RACE WAS OVER’
However he was still 47sec off the lead having started the day on super-slick tyres which saw his car crash into a wall on the opening stage.
Bouffier said: "It was a real Monte Carlo Rally, with the rain, snow, the fog. It's also really satisfying to finish the first day in first place as a private entry up against factory teams - but we are very lucky to be here.
"We hit a bridge on the very first corner of the first stage. I thought our race was over."
2014 Monte Carlo Rally Leg 1 result
1 Bryan Bouffier (France) Ford 1hr25min36.6
2 Kris Meeke (Britain) Citroen +00min38.8
3 Robert Kubica (Poland) Ford +00min39.5
4 Sebastien Ogier (France) Volkswagen +00min47.3
5 Mads Ostberg (Norway) Citroen +01min20.7
6 Elfyn Evans (Britain) Ford +01min38.6
7 Jari-Matti Latvala (Finland) Volkswagen +02min20.8
8 Mikko Hirvonen (Finland) Ford +02min46.9
9 Andreas Mikkelsen (Norway) Volkswagen +04min06.2
10 Olivier Burri (Switzerland) Ford +04min47.4
Ford Fiesta driver Bouffier, 2011 winner in the principality, leads Meeke (Citroen) with ex-Formula 1 star Robert Kubica (Ford) third.
VIDEO: Ogier hits wall on Monte Rally
Ogier paid a price for a poor tyre choice on the morning stages but had risen to fourth from ninth by the end of the first day in his VW Polo.
‘I THOUGHT OUR RACE WAS OVER’
However he was still 47sec off the lead having started the day on super-slick tyres which saw his car crash into a wall on the opening stage.
Bouffier said: "It was a real Monte Carlo Rally, with the rain, snow, the fog. It's also really satisfying to finish the first day in first place as a private entry up against factory teams - but we are very lucky to be here.
"We hit a bridge on the very first corner of the first stage. I thought our race was over."
2014 Monte Carlo Rally Leg 1 result
1 Bryan Bouffier (France) Ford 1hr25min36.6
2 Kris Meeke (Britain) Citroen +00min38.8
3 Robert Kubica (Poland) Ford +00min39.5
4 Sebastien Ogier (France) Volkswagen +00min47.3
5 Mads Ostberg (Norway) Citroen +01min20.7
6 Elfyn Evans (Britain) Ford +01min38.6
7 Jari-Matti Latvala (Finland) Volkswagen +02min20.8
8 Mikko Hirvonen (Finland) Ford +02min46.9
9 Andreas Mikkelsen (Norway) Volkswagen +04min06.2
10 Olivier Burri (Switzerland) Ford +04min47.4