Ford privateer Martin Prokop sprung a surprise and took the lead on Rally Italia Sardegna this evening after topping the times in🔴 the short ꦛ2.50km Citta Di Cagliari super special test.

Prokop, who has scored points in every event so far this season, peaking in Argentina with a fourth place in his Jipocar Czech National Team-run Fiesta RS WRC car, completed the test in 2 minutes 23.7 seconds, leaving him 1.7 seconds up on Volkswage꧅n Motorsport II p💦ilot, Andreas Mikkelsen, while Ott Tanak and Thierry Neuville tied for third, although Tanak did report handbrake issues at the stage end.

Drivers t༺ackled the test two-by-two, with Prokop easily w♏inning his duel against Robert Kubica, after the Pole spun in a hairpin.

Behind, Mads Ostberg holds fifth, ahead of two-time WRC champion and current Championship leader Sebastien Ogier,💙 who is joint sixth with Jari-Matti Latvala. Hayden Paddon and Kris Meeke tie for ninth, the former clipping a bale, while WRC2 runner Esapekka Lappi rounds out the top ten.

Dani Sordo did post the seconꦬd best time, but subsequently dropped back after he was hit with a 10 second penalty for jumping the start

T꧋he action now continues on Friday with nine stages on the bill and a total competitive 💙distance of 133.50 km.

SS2, the 26.31 km Grighine Sud 1 test, is scheduled to start at 08.20 hours local time. Full itinerary for round six in WRC 2015 available - HERE.

2015 Rally Italia Sardegna: Overall standings after Stage 1 (Top 10):

1. Martin ProkopJipocar Czech National Team Ford Fiesta RS WRC 2m 23.7s M
2. Andreas MikkelsenVolkswagen Motorsport II Polo R WRC+0m 01.7s M
3. Ott TanakM-Sport WRT Ford Fiesta RS WRC+0m 02.9s M
= Thierry Neuville Hyundai Motorsport i20 WRC +0m 02.9s M
5. Mads OstbergCitroen Total Abu Dhabi WRT DS 3 WRC +0m 3.3s M
6. Sebastien OgierVolkswagen Motorsport Polo R WRC+0m 3.4s M
= Jari-Matti LatvalaVolkswagen Motorsport Polo R WRC+0m 3.4s M
8. Hayden PaddonHyundai Motorsport N i20 WRC+0m 4.7s M
= Kris MeekeCitroen Total Abu Dhabi WRT DS 3 WRC +0m 4.7s M
10. Esapekka LappiSkoda Fabia R5+0m 5.1s WRC2

Other(s):

11. Elfyn EvansM-Sport WRT Ford Fiesta RS WRC+0m 5.2s M
14. Lorenzo BertelliFord Fiesta RS WRC+0m 7.8s M
15. Robert KubicaFord Fiesta RS WRC+0m 8.4s
20. Dani Sordo Hyundai Motorsport i20 WRC +0m 11.3s M

WRC2 standings after Stage 1 (Top 3):

1. Esapekka LappiSkoda Fabia R52m 28.8s WRC2
2. Nasser Al-AttiyahFord Fiesta RRC+0m 02.2s WRC2
3. Yuriy ProtasovFord Fiesta RRC+0m 02.5s WRC2

Notable retirements:

None.

M denotes Manufacturer entry

all times unofficial