M-Sport’s Maurin to start first on day two

M-Sport Ford Fiesta driver Julien Maurin will start first on the road on day two of Rallye Monte-Carlo, round one of the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge, after organisers reversed the top 10 overall positions following Wednesday’s opening four stages.

Maurin, from France, is scheduled to start Thursday’s first stage at 12:23hrs local time. He will be followed through the stages by Jean-Sébastien Vigion and former Rallye Monte-Carlo winner François Delecour. Event leader Juho Hänninen starts 10th in his Škoda Motorsport Fabia S2000.

Ambient temperatures continue to fall with readings ranging from zero to minus seven degrees centigrade. There are reports of a coating of frost on parts of the first two stages today and a possibility of snow later this afternoon.

The bulk of the leading runners are using a softer compound tyre – albeit not the softest option available from tyre firm Michelin – although some, including Delecour, have opted for a medium compound version.

Škoda’s four factory drivers are carrying two spare tyres, while Peugeot France runners Stéphane Sarrazin and Bryan Bouffier have chosen to carry one spare tyre to benefit from a weight saving of some 20 kilograms