Two-time world champion Sebastien Ogier began the defence of his Rally of Poland crown in sparkling fashion on Thursday winning the day's only special stage in Mikolajki to the north east of Warsaw.

The 31-year-old Frenchman was half a second faster in his VW Polo over the 2.5-kilometre course than former Formula One ace and home favourite Robert Kubica, who was driving a Ford Fiesta.

Norwegian Mads Ostberg, who is second in the championship race but 66 points in arrears of Ogier, had a mediocre stage finishing 11th fastest, three seconds off the French winner.

His day's work, though, was markedly less dramatic than British driver Kris Meeke's.

Meeke, who won his first world championship rally at the grand old age of 35 when he took the Argentina leg in April, is four seconds off the pace having had an early wake-up call in the morning's Shakedown stage -- which acts as a warm-up to the real event -- when the Northern Irishman's car rolled eight times and he and co-driver Paul Nagle miraculously emerged unhurt.

Friday's action sees 155.04km covered over eight specials.
Source: AFP