Jari-Matti Latvala was the undoubted star of the opening leg of Wales Rally GB after the Stobart VK M-Sport driver produced an assured display to end day one of the WRC season finale chasing a podium position.

The young Finn, on his first appearance at the wheel of the '06 specification Ford Focus, was looking to end his limited programme for the M2 team with a strong result after disappointing displays on his three events at the wheel of an older Focus earlier in the season and put the Stobart team firmly in contention near the front with a drive that belied his years.

In the top ten on every stage during the opening leg, the only minor worry came on SS4 – the second run through Port Talbot – when his dislodged body work on the front of the car while passing through a water splash.

However, the damage to the car was purely cosmetic and didn't slow the Finn through the final two stages of the day as he returned to service in fourth position, a minute off third placed Manfred Stohl and 20 seconds clear of the battle for fifth being fought between Kronos Citroen pair Dani Sordo and Xavier Pons.

“It was still taking me some time to get used to the speed of the car this morning and the conditions weren't all that easy to be learning the car,” Latvala admitted. “The grip was changing a lot of the time, we didn't know what to expect in some corners. The times have been good – I was happy about that and I have to say I was quite surprised as well. I didn't expect to be so high up.

“This afternoon I have felt confident with the car, but the road has been strange – the road has got slower. The surface is more slippery this afternoon and the tyre maybe hasn't cut through as much as we would have liked. It's so important for me to be at the finish. This year I have made some mistakes when I have been under pressure, I can't do this on this rally.”

Having elected to bring Latvala back into the team for the season finale, team principal Malcolm Wilson was delighted to see him taking the fight to the established WRC campaigners.

“What a great day for the team!” he said. “I told Jari-Matti this morning that he could be in the top six without taking any risks and that's what he has done. He's driven really well.”