Intro:

Mikko Hirvonen topped the timesheets after day one of the Italian leg of the World Rally Championship.

Script:

More than 45,000 people and 400 journalists were in attendance, for the the opening stage of the World Rally Championship in Cagliari, Italy.

The Italian round of the event features eight stages totaling 159.58km. The loop of four stages that runsin the morning is repeated in the afternoon, with the longest stage clocking in at 27.30km.

And it was Mikko Hirvonen who emerged fastest beating Jari-Matti Latvala in his heat and knocking Thierry Neuville off top spot on the time sheets.

Reigning World champion Sebastien Ogier came in second place with Neuville after defeating Citroen's Kris Meeke in his heat, whilst fellow Finn Latvala finished fifth.

Immediately after the Cagliari super special, the crews made the long return journey north to the host town of Alghero for Friday's stages The event has already attracted more than 60,000 fans on the island boosting the economy and tourist figures in Sardinia.