UPDATE 3 - Rally Turkey Day 1:Citroen's Lappi closes day as leader

UPDATES WITH DRIVER STANDINGS AFTER SS7, CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

MUGLA, Turkey (AA) - Citroen driver Esapekka Lappi secured the top position with 1:59:53.7, to return to his garage as Friday's leader of the Rally Turkey.

Spanish driver Dani Sordo stormed at the wet conditions of the tournament held in the Aegean city of Mugla and did the best time at the SS7 (Ula 2) to gain two spots in the overall standing.

The championship challengers Sebastien Ogier closed the day as the second fastest, Thierry Neuville saved his third place, while the championship leader Ott Tanak slipped down a place in the ranking.

The rain started at the Rally Turkey while drivers were running SS6.

"Very crazy," Lappi said after completing the SS6 in wet conditions.

"First I think that it was okay and then it became muddy, it was quite slippery," he added.

He said that he locked the wheels on the brake at the end of the stage where he had to go deep downhill.

Drivers completed Icmeler, Cetibeli -- the longest stage of the weekend -- and Ula stages twice on the first day.

After topping the SS2 and SS4 in his Toyota Yaris, Jari-Matti Latvala dropped six places in the overall standings. Lappi was the fastest in the SS3, while the other Toyota driver Kriss Meeke, who is racing for the first time in Marmaris, led the SS5. Neuville finished the SS6 in first row.

The Rally Turkey will continue non-stop on Saturday with Yesilbelde (SS8), Datca (SS9) and Kizilan (SS10) stages.

Here are the leading times of the first day:

1. Esapekka Lappi (Citroen C3) 1:59:53.7

2. Sebastien Ogier (Citroen C3) +17.7

3. Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20) +18.4

4. Teemu Suninen (Ford M-Sport) +44.4

5. Andreas Mikkelsen (Hyundai i20) +1:04.1

6. Dani Sordo (Hyundai i20) +1:25.2

7. Kris Meeke (Toyota Yaris) +1:32.1

8. Ott Tanak (Toyota Yaris) +1:37.4

9. Jari-Matti Latvala (Toyota Yaris) +1:42.5

10. Pontus Tidemand (Ford M-Sport) +3:45.4