A visibly relaxed Ogier delivered an early salvo in the fight to be crowned 2021 World Rally champion this morning despite low-lying fog and changeable grip proving a challenge for all the leading drivers.

He punched in fastest tim📖es on🌜 three of Friday’s four tests on alpine roads north of Bergamo near the picturesque Lake Como to lead title rival Elfyn Evans by 6.5 seconds.

The only hiccup came on the second run through 'Valla Imagna' whe𓂃n his Yaris ended up on two wheels after he nibbled too much road at a left hairpin and caught the verge.

T൩he Frenchman does not necessarily need to win Rally Monza but if positions remain unchanged by close of play on Sunday, he would clinch an eighth title by 24 points sho𒈔uld neither he nor Evans manage to score Power Stage points.

“It was tough [this mornꦚing] – but maybe not as tough like last year,” said Ogier. “At least there is no snow or heavy rain.

“A change of grip for sure,💦 but still more consistency and a good car to drive. So far, the plan was to enjoy𓆉 it and so far we enjoy. It’s all good at the moment.

“When you enjoy driving most of the time you are going fast," he added. "It was a long tim🤪e ago that we did not start the rally with a good set-up, so it feels good to finally see the times coming."

His upbeat mood is in stark contrast to last month's Ral🔴ly Spain where the seven-time champion admitted post event he had never changed so much on a car as he tried to unlock the Yaris's true potential on asphalt.

Fourmaux has learned a hard lesson - Millener

M-Sport Ford’s Adrien Fourmaux was the first driver to be caught out by this morning’s greasy conditions. On stage three – the 6.8-miles of ‘Gerosa’ – he ran wide on a left-hander and clipped the banꦦk on the right, with the impact flipping his Fiesta intoꦬ a roll.

Fourmaux went🌳 against the grain by opting to bolt Pirelli’s soft compound rubber onto his car - but the decision didn’t have the desired ef✤fect.

M-Sport Ford Team Principal Richard Millener admitted the outcome had left the young 🌳Frenchman "gutted" and put the experience down to character building.

“We have ended up where we are, unfortunately, and I said to him, 'This is one of those tough lessons 🧸to learn',” said Millener.

“If you go back a number of events when he had his strongest performances, Adrien would say it༺ wasn’t all plain▨ sailing. It’s challenging but he has learned a lesson here. It’s one to take on board.

“It’s a shame for him because I think he could have bee🐠n competitive here; his shakedown time was good, he is very good o𝄹n the technical stages like the circuit stages here so yeah, it’s a shame.

"He is upset, he is gutted about ♛it, but we just deal with it and move on,🉐" he added.