Oliver Solberg grabbed the early lead of Rally del Paraguay after a dramatic opening stage that saw Takamoto Katsuta crash out, Thierry Neuville lose nearly three minutes with suspension damage, and Sebastien Ogier drop time with a puncture.
Driving a Toyota GR Yaris, Solberg was 3.1 seconds faster than Adrien Fourmaux's Hyundai i20 N through the challenging 15.3-mile Cambryeta stage. Despite the pace, the Swede was far from satisfied, admitting it "felt horrendous." Aware of the back injury he suffered in Finland, he explained, "I was so scared over all those big jumps and bumps, and it's the first time since Finland – a bit too scared. Very slippery – I lost the rear so many times and it was so snappy."
Fourmaux, starting two cars behind Solberg, reported loose rocks being pulled onto the road but said he "really tried to get through this one without losing much time." His Hyundai team-mate Hayden Paddon, making his return to top-level gravel, was third fastest, a further 1.7s back.
Sami Pajari, winner of the last two events in Estonia and Finland, was fourth, 2.4s slower than Paddon, but appeared to lose time in the later sectors and was anxious to check his car for an unspecified issue. Starting second on the road, Pajari was 2.9s quicker than team-mate and championship leader Elfyn Evans, who seemed to adopt a cautious approach on a stage already gaining a fearsome reputation.
That caution proved wise, given the dramas for Toyota drivers Katsuta and Ogier. Katsuta ran wide through a fast right-hander less than two miles in, dropping his left wheels into a ditch and rolling. He initially continued but stopped shortly after, consoled by co-driver Aaron Johnston. Ogier, who had been setting quick splits, suffered a rear-left deflation and lost 24.4s without stopping to change. Neuville's issue was worse—initially thought to be a puncture, it turned out to be rear suspension damage, costing him nearly three minutes. "We went slightly wide over a jump and it immediately ripped off the braking line," he reported.
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