French driver Bryan Bouffier snatched the lead in the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally on Thursday after a blunder by world champion Sebastien Ogier on tyre choice.
Ford Fiesta driver Bouffier, the 2011 winner in the principality, leads Britain's Kris Meeke in a Citroen by 38.8 seconds with Poland's ex-Formula One star Robert Kubica, in another Ford Fiesta, in third spot.
Ogier paid the 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 Volkswagen Polo.
However, he was still more than 47 seconds off the lead having started the day on super-slick tyres and crashing into a wall on the opening stage.
"It was a real Monte Carlo Rally, with the rain, snow, the fog," said Bouffier.
"It's also really satisfying to finish the first day in first place as a privateer 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."
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