The ninth round of the FIA World Rally Championship got underway last night in the roman city of Trier, the historic Porta Nigra providing a magnificent backdrop for the official start. This morning, however, the crews headed north for the first of two identical loops of two stages in the narrow and bumpy lanes of the Mosel vineyards.

Ogier took the first stage win, despite a cautious approach, but was overhauled by team-mate Mikkelsen when he overshot a hairpin in SS2, dropping him to third at the mid-leg service. The Norwegian hasn’t had the perfect morning either; he hit a bank in SS1 and as a consequence suffered with wheel vibrations in both the morning stages. Despite some small mistakes in the second stage, he has however taken the lead in the first full asphalt round of the series this year. Neuville hasn’t been entirely happy with the set-up of his i20 WRC and hit something in the second stage, pushing too hard. He did however win the stage.

Behind third-placed Ogier, Dani Sordo is fourth in the second Hyundai but the Spaniard has found it difficult to push, having suffered with understeer during the morning. Ott Tanak is fifth after a good run and Frenchman Stephane Lefebvre is easing himself back into tarmac competition in sixth. Mads Østberg hasn’t had a great start to Rallye Deutschland with a steering problem and no handbrake and has dropped 45.1 seconds after just two stages. Hayden Paddon will be equally disappointed with a spin in the first stage and a puncture in the second after hitting a drain. He is eighth ahead of the leading FIA WRC 2 Championship contenders. Armin Kremer leads this category, the German Skoda driver 19.2 seconds ahead of Peugeot rival Jose Suarez. Esapekka Lappi is third after three uncharacteristic spins.

Very early casualties in the event include Jari-Matti Latvala who never made it through the first stage after gearbox problems halted him, and Eric Camilli who went off the road in the same stage.

In the FIA Junior WRC Championship, Martin Koci leads the pack ahead of series frontrunner Simone Tempestini.