WRC Rally Sweden: Sebastien Ogier holds early edge as VW dominates

The reigning World Rally champion took advantage of being first on the road in the unusually dry conditions, moving to the top of the overall standings after the opening test of the loop with a time 2.7s quicker than Latvala.

Struggling for confidence, the Finn then dropped a further 5.8s on SS3 before finding his feet on SS4, which he won to reduce Ogier's cushion by 1.6s.

Latvala admitted to being over-cautious on the final stage of the loop however, losing 2.9s to the rally leader and ending the morning 9.1s adrift.

Andreas Mikkelsen completes a VW one-two-three, 19.6s behind Ogier. The Norwegian suffered a delay on SS2 as a result of a collision with a hay bale.

Citroen's Mads Ostberg is just 2.4s behind his compatriot, and comfortably ahead of lead Hyundai driver Thierry Neuville, who is 36.8s off the pace in fifth.

The Belgian inherited the position when Kris Meeke, who had been running close behind Ostberg, spun his Citroen DS3 WRC on SS4 after hitting a snowbank. The Ulsterman is 54s adrift of leader Ogier in sixth as a result.

Both of M-Sport's drivers had a difficult morning - Elfyn Evans sits seventh, over a minute off the pace and lacking confidence on a relatively unfamiliar surface, while Ott Tanak is a further 8.2s behind, losing time with an off on SS2, the result of a mistake in his pacenotes.

Robert Kubica sits just behind the pair in ninth after overshooting a junction on SS3, with Martin Prokop rounding out the top 10 just ahead of Hayden Paddon, who suffered a spin on SS4.

WRC2 driver Pontus Tidemand's reign at the head of the overall standings after his shock superspecial win on Thursday evening was predictably shortlived. The Swede is now 15th overall and second in class behind Finland's Jari Ketomaa.

Rally Sweden coverage on AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live resumes at 12.15pm UK time

LEADING POSITIONS AFTER SS5: