Elfyn Evans took the lead of the Tour of Corsica on the third stage of a wild opening day on Friday as early frontrunners Robert Kubica and world rally championship winner Sebastien Ogier dropped to fifth and 10th respectively.
Torrential rain in the region caused floods and landslides, leading to the cancellation of the second stage, while the third stage was delayed.
Conditions were extremely wet and muddy on the 36.43-kilometre (22.64-mile) route from Francardo to Sermano but Ogier looked set to retain his lead before picking up a puncture and having to stop and change a wheel at the rear left of the car.
"We had a slow puncture," said Ogier, who clinched his third successive WRC title after winning Rally Australia in September. "I knew it would be a lottery with the rain and a lot of mud and rocks."
Evans beat Kevin Abbring by 10.3 seconds to take an 18.7-second lead over the Dutch driver, after they leapfrogged into first and second from sixth and seventh.
Jari-Matti Latvala is third, 22.9 behind Evans.
"I didn't feel I was that fast," Evans said. "It was difficult but the gravel crew did a fantastic work which helped a lot. It's difficult to get the good rhythm."
Ogier was the first to set off in dreadful conditions and he and Kubica shared the lead after the opening stage, a 29.12-kilometre (18.1-mile) route from Plage du Liamone to Sarrola-Carcopino. Latvala was 5.8 behind.
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