The New Zealand driver Hayden Paddon was seventh fastest in the opening super special stage of Rally Portugal.
The New Zealand driver Hayden Paddon in action at Rally Corsica. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Hyundai driver was up against World Champion Sebastien Ogier in the feature heat on the Rallycross circuit, with the Frenchman recording the best time of the day.
Ogier was 0.9sec quicker than Thierry Neuville with another Hyundai driver Dani Sordo third.
Afterwards Paddon said he was there to drive his own rally and he tried to get warmed up tonight.
Paddon is second in the drivers championship behind Ogier after winning the last round in Argentina.
This fifth round of the FIA World Rally Championship continues tomorrow when competitors face two identical loops of three gravel stages near Viana do Castelo, close to the Spanish border. Two asphalt street stages in the centre of Porto end the leg after 132km of competition.
