Stage one of Rally Sweden started off with a Volkswagen 1-2 but the stage winner was less than expected.
Norwegian driver Andreas Mikkelsen took the opening stage by eight-tenths of a second over his teammate, defending world champion Sébastien Ogier. Estonian Ott Tänak finished third, right where Bryan Bouffier left off in the #11 M-Sport Ford Fiesta at Monte-Carlo, as Tänak was third fastest on stage one, 2.2 seconds back of Mikkelsen. Tänak held off a Volkswagen sweep of the top three by two-tenths of a second over Jari-Matti Latvala. Mikko Hirvonen was fifth in his M-Sport Ford, 2.6 seconds back of Mikkelsen.
Henning Solberg was sixth in his first stage of the 2014 season after sitting out Monte-Carlo. The brother of 2003 world champion Petter Solberg is driving his own Ford Fiesta. He is three seconds back of his fellow Norwegian Mikkelsen. Juho Hänninen was seventh, two-tenths back of Solberg in the #8 Hyundai i20 WRC. Dani Sordo drove the #8 at Monte-Carlo. Mads Østberg was the top Citroën driver in eighth running the same time as Hänninen. Thierry Neuville was two-tenths off of his Hyundai teammate in ninth position with Citroën driver Kris Meeke rounding out the top ten, 3.9 seconds off of Mikkelsen.
The top Swedish driver is Pontus Tidemand in eleventh position, 4.5 seconds back of the leader. Tidemand is driving a privately own Ford Fiesta. Robert Kubica was twelfth after stage one, five seconds back of Mikkelsen.
Day two of Rally Sweden features six stages with the day beginning at 4:54 a.m. ET.
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