Belgian Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20) leads Rally Sweden after completing the second day of the event, almost five seconds ahead of Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen.
The Hyundai driver took the controls of the test after the Estonian Ott Tänak won the opening special of the rally the day before, in a stage in which the Belgian could only be sixth, although only a second behind the winner.
Neuvill leads a provisional podium occupied by Hyundai drivers, with Norwegian Mikkelsen in second (4.9 seconds behind) and New Zealander Hayden Paddon in third (more than 12 seconds away).
The championship leader and current world champion, Frenchman Sébastien Ogier (M-Sport Ford), could only be twelfth, almost three minutes behind the leader, burdened by having to open the rally on snowy roads.
Eight specials will be held on Saturday.
Classification after the second day:
1. Thierry Neuville-Nicolas Gilsoul (BEL / Hyundai i20) 1h16: 13.1
2. Andreas Mikkelsen-Anders Jaeger (NOR / Hyundai i20) at 4.9
3. Hayden Paddon-Sebastian Marshall (NZL-GB / Hyundai i20) at 12.1
4. Craig Breen-Scott Martin (IRL-GBR / Citroën C3) at 12.6
5. Mads Ostberg-Torstein Eriksson (NOR / Citroën C3) at 13.2
6. Teemu Suninen-Mikko Markkula (FIN / Ford Fiesta) at 29.6
7. Esapekka Lappi-Janne Ferm (FIN / Toyota Yaris) at 38.5
8. Jari-Matti Latvala-Miikka Anttila (FIN / Toyota Yaris) at 1: 06.2
9. Ott Tänak-Martin Järveoja (EST / Toyota Yaris) 1: 29.0
10. Kris Meeke-Paul Nagle (GBR-IRL / Citroën C3) a
1: 43.6
Belgian Neuville leads Rally Sweden after day two
