Sordo attacks on Sunday’s opener

Dani Sordo’s bid for second place on Rally de Espana got off to a good start on Sunday’s opening stage when he narrowed the gap to the man holding the position, Petter Solberg.

Sordo narrowed the gap from 16.9 seconds to 12 seconds through the 42km El Priorat test after a drive he admitted had been on the limit. But having covered almost half of today competitive distance, the Spaniard acknowledged he was running out of time to catch Petter.

“We got the best time in there, so that’s okay, now we have the small one to come. Maybe we can make a little bit more there - let’s see,” he said.

Solberg completed the stage without any problems, but ruing a careful approach. “I was too quote cautious with the tyres,” he explained. “I was too concerned about not overdoing it early in the stage.”

Jari-Matti Latvala began the day fourth, 10 seconds behind Sordo. At the end of the stage however that gap had increased to 28.5sec and Latvala said his podium fight was over.

J-WRC leader Yeray Lemez stopped 9km into the test. The Spaniard managed to get his Renault to the end of the stage but dropped to second in the Junior classification, 1min 57sec behind the new leader - and now title favourite - Hans Weijs.

Ford Focus RS WRC driver Frigyes Turan retired after going off the road 2km from the start line. The Hungarian privateer had been seventh overall.

Overall standings after SS13: