Ogier builds lead as Meeke hits trouble

Meeke had been the reigning World Rally champion's closest contender on the morning loop, resting 14.7 seconds down on the Frenchman after two stages.

But a deflated Michelin cover cost the Northern Irishman more than two minutes, when he had sought to become the first British driver since Colin McRae in 2001 to score three consecutive WRC wins.

Ogier went 15s quicker than anyone in the stage where Meeke's hopes perished and the VW's closest contender on the stage also became his closest challenger on the rally overall, Hyundai's Thierry Neuville.

The Belgian consolidated second at end the day, but with a resurgent Jari-Matti Latvala 14s back in third.

Latvala struggled for confidence in the morning with the car 'washing out' in corners, but after a change at service the Finn worked his way back into contention, jumping team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen on the last stage of the day with a second-fastest overall time.

Behind Mikkelsen, Craig Breen made the most of trouble for Hyundai duo Hayden Paddon and Dani Sordo to take fifth.

Sordo stopped to change a puncture on SS4, while Paddon drove through the end of the same stage, also with a puncture, but consequently lost time.

Breen trails fourth-placed Mikkelsen by 19.4s, while Paddon holds sixth but has to drive back to service on his punctured tyre.

As it stands, Paddon holds the place ahead of the top M-Sport driver on the day, Eric Camilli in seventh. The Frenchman sits 40s ahead of experienced team-mate Mads Ostberg.

After his trouble, Meeke holds 11th, 2m51.9s down on Ogier.