Estonian Ott Tanak and Peruvian Nicolas Fuchs left the WRC 2 fight on the first loop of morning stages and this paved the way for the Ukraine’s Yuriy Protasov to reach the overnight halt with a comfortable lead over Lorenzo Bertelli; the ninth-placed Ford Fiesta R5 driver’s cause was helped when his 10th-placed Italian rival lost time with brake issues and then a puncture on stage seven.