Craig Breen established a 19.5-second early lead over Robert Kubica as the European Rally Championship resumed in Corsica.
SS1 featured slippery conditions while sunshine emerged for a dry SS2, but whatever the weather, Peugeot driver Breen had a comfortable margin over his rivals.
He was 11 seconds clear on the Le Fangu opener, then extended that cushion by another 8s on Erbajolo.
Kubica took SS1 gently in the damp, and was slightly troubled by brake issues throughout the loop.
The Pole is 6s clear of a tight battle for third between Bryan Bouffier and championship leader Jan Kopecky.
Sportscar star Stephane Sarrazin admitted he was still reacclimatising to rallying after an eight-month absence as he established himself in fifth in his Mini.
Francois Delecour is almost a minute behind in sixth, just ahead of Julien Maurin.
Although tyre choice was a factor, former World Rally frontrunner Delecour said that however hard he pushed, the leaders’ pace was out of reach.
