The Rally Sierra Morena - Córdoba Patrimonio de la Humanidad Qualifying Stage pacesetter and Córdoba super special stage winner dropped time in the damp conditions on this morning’s first two stages running first on the road. But he hit top form once again by winning the dry 27.19-kilometre Villaviciosa run to hold a lead of 10.9sec over home hero José Suárez at the midday service halt.

Driving a Michelin-equipped Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, Gryazin grew his advantage to 15.5sec by going quickest on SS6 before his electrifying charge through the repeat of Villaviciosa gave him an overnight lead of 28.8sec after he went fastest by 11.6sec.

“It was quite good, we showed a good pace,” Gryazin said. “The problem was being first [on the road]. It gave a good advantage on the long stage [this morning] but it was a disadvantage on the first two stages because it was drying out, so we were not as fast as we wanted to be. The second pass was also not easy but for sure we can do better tomorrow.”

Suárez (below) holds second place overnight in another Michelin-shod Fabia with Frenchman Yoann Bonato third in a Citroën C3 Rally2, albeit just 4.9sec behind his Spanish rival.

Andrea Mabellini, who won SS3 to close to within 1.2sec of Gryazin, is fourth overnight with Mads Østberg demoting Efrén Llarena for fifth on SS7 after the 2022 ERC champion pulled up with steam rising from under the bonnet of his self-run C3 Rally2. It was a frustrating end to Llarena’s challenge after he went fastest of all on SS5.

Østberg had problems of his own, however, the Norwegian reporting a pop-off valve issue after SS6 and a lack of engine power and a brake problem at the completion of SS7.

“I have no power in the engine and I have a broken front caliper,” Østberg said. “I did the last seven kilometres without front brakes. We lost a lot of time. I don't know why it all happens at the same time, but that’s how it is.”

Miko Marczyk is sixth overnight with Robert Virves the leading Hankook runner in eighth place, one position behind Hyundai i20 N Rally2 driver Pepe López.

Stéphane Lefebvre is ninth for Team MRF Tyres with reigning Junior ERC champion Mille Johansson impressing on his step up to Rally2 level in 10th place.

Simone Tempestini and Jon Armstrong follow ahead of Simon Wagner, who completed the closing kilometres of SS7 unable to hear his co-driver Hanna Ostlender’s pacenotes after his car’s sump guard became detached and dragged on the road. Ex-Formula One driver Jos Verstappen (below) is 14th followed by Dominik Stříteský, last season’s Barum Czech Rally Zlín winner.

“As expected it was difficult, especially the long one,” said Verstappen, who heads the Master ERC Championship order. “I was struggling because of the length of the stage with the notes and they were cutting everywhere so there was some mud and water on the road. That was tough but I am more than happy with what we have done.”

After winning SS2 in his Pirelli-equipped Ford Fiesta Rally2, Jon Armstrong’s hopes of a strong result on the ERC season opener suffered a setback when he went off the road 19.6 kilometres from the start of SS4 after running wide on a tight right-hand turn. He was able to continue but lost more than one minute.

“I just went too deep in the braking, missed the braking point, went slightly off and got stuck,” the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team driver said. “It was down a bank so we were lucky to get out.”

In FIA ERC3, Tristan Charpentier, driving a Pirelli-equipped Ford Fiesta Rally3, is 10.2sec ahead of Renault Clio Rally3 driver Hubert Kowalczyk – and is also in front in the ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy.

Sergi Pérez leads FIA ERC4 and Junior ERC rival Calle Carlberg by less than a second in a thrilling battle for category honours. Rallye Team Spain-supported Peugeot 208 Rally4 driver Pérez is just 0.7sec ahead of ADAC Opel Rally Junior Team driver Carlberg with Carlberg’s team-mate Timo Schulz in third place.

The deciding leg tomorrow (Sunday) features six stages over a competitive distance of 115.08 kilometres with the 19.89-kilometre Cerrobejuelas eighth stage up first from 08:20 local time. The 42nd Rally Sierra Morena - Córdoba Patrimonio de la Humanidad is set to conclude with the 12.43-kilometre Pozoblanco-Villaharta Power Stage from 17:05.