Evans tops Rally Poland-opening superspecial

In wet conditions, the DMACK Ford driver was eight tenths of a second ahead of Thierry Neuville's Hyundai, with the M-Sport Ford of World Rally Championship leader Sebastien Ogier a further tenth back.

Jari-Matti Latvala was the fastest of the Toyotas in fourth, ahead of Ott Tanak.

Latvala's team-mate Esapekka Lappi came through the stage with a competitive time for joint sixth place with Stephane Lefebvre and Hayden Paddon, but was concerned that his Yaris was developing an engine problem.

Lefebvre, who had missed the last rally in Italy to make way for Andreas Mikkelsen, was the fastest Citroen driver.

Mikkelsen, this time replacing Kris Meeke, and Craig Breen came in ninth and 12th.

M-Sport has an additional Fiesta WRC this weekend for its WRC2 star Teemu Suninen, who began his top-class debut with the 13th-fastest time.