Creighton, Pellier set up two-car showdown in WRC3

The rivals, who drive matching M-Sport Poland-prepared Ford Fiesta Rally3 cars, interestingly used the same stage to produce their biggest pushes of the day. It was Pellier landing the first blow, going an impressive 15.4sec clear of the field through the rally's opening stage - Mali Lipovec – Grdanjci.

But when crews returned to the same stage immediately following midday service, Creighton produced an even more impressive feat, completing 18.8sec quicker than Pellier to gain the rally lead by 3.9sec.

The fight remained tight over the day’s three remaining stages but Creighton was still able to gain nearly two more seconds over Pellier to complete the day with a nine-second buffer.

Attrition was high in the one-make field, with Croatia's tricky roads claiming three of the eight-strong entry. Czech driver Filip Kohn was forced to retire early in SS1 while local hopeful Martin Ravenščak stopped just one stage later. Having begun the afternoon loop in third, Spain's Roberto Blach went off the road, elevating Irishman Eamonn Kelly to to third.

Belgium’s Tom Resonnet finished the day in fourth whilst a conservative drive from Hamza Anwar saw the Kenyan round out the top five.