Peugeot Spain driver Nicolas Vouilloz leads the general classification by just seven seconds at the end of the opening leg of the Rallye du Valais, the eighth round in the 2007 Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

The Frenchman had no problems at all over the opening three stages on Thursday although the team changed his 207 S2000's fuel pump at final service as a precaution after a fuel pressure warning light came on.

“It's been a good start but this is really just a taster before the real action starts tomorrow,” he noted. “We had no real problems, but we weren't pushing hard as there were some places that were very slippery.

"The weather definitely made a difference: there were some places where we didn't get the chance to warm up the tyres as we should have done. It's far too early to draw any solid conclusions though.”

In second place, after a spirited performance, is Abarth's young Italian Umberto Scandola. He ends the leg in the highest overall position that he has ever held on an IRC event, after a strong run through the opening stages.

Nonetheless, he plans to make a few set-up changes to tighten his car's rear differential and improve the handling: “I'm happy with our start here in Switzerland, but I want to make a few adjustments to the handling of our car – which is why we're making the rear differential a bit tighter at service,” he confirmed.

“I think that our pace is good: the difficulty will be in maintaining it. Tomorrow's first stage could be decisive, so I need to find the right compromise between staying in contention with the leaders and not taking too many risks. If there is ice, it could be tricky...”

IRC series leader Enrique Garcia Ojeda meanwhile is currently third, in a strong position to cement his advantage if things stay as they are.

Although the opening leg covered only a short distance, there has already been plenty of drama – thanks to some slippery roads in the cold temperatures.