Kiwi Hayden Paddon during the Sweden WRC shakedown. Photo / Red Bull Media
Kiwi Hayden Paddon has completed a messy opening stage of Rally Sweden - posting the 11th fastest time in his Hyundai i20.
The 29-year-old New Zealander clipped a tyre bundle and looked a little erratic in the short opening test.
It will have little impact on the overall rally however - he was just 3.2s behind stage winner Jari-Matti Latvala over the short 1.9km stadium-style course.
"Just messy," Paddon said. "I got caught out a couple of times on the ice.
"Tomorrow is when it starts."
Paddon will look to bounce back from a crash in the season-opening event in Monte Carlo and try to repeat his stunning performance on the snow surface last year when he finished second.
Earlier in the day the New Zealander posted an impressive third fastest time in the pre-event shakedown.
Latvala backed up an impressive debut with the returning Toyota team at Monte Carlo to win the opening test in Sweden. It was the first stage win for Toyota since 1999.
"Everything is more than great," a delighted Latvala said. "Now I just need to hold my horses."
Paddon's Hyundai teammate Theirry Neuville was second fastest 0.6s behind Latvala while Spaniard Dani Sordo was third fastest in another Hyundai.
World champion Sebastien Ogier was fifth fastest - 0.1s behind M-Sport Ford teammate Ott Tanak.
Seven special stages await for the drivers on the first full day of Rally Sweden beginning later tonight.
Stage 1 Results
Jari-Matti Latvala (Toyota) 1:34.1s
Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) +0.6s
Dani Sordo (Hyundai) +0.7s
Ott Tanak (Ford) +0.8s
Sebastien Ogier (Ford) +0.9s
Mads Ostberg (Ford) +1.2s
Kris Meeke (Citroen) +2.0s
Juho Hanninen (Toyota) +2.1s
Elfyn Evans (Ford) +2.1s
Ole Christian Veiby (Skoda) +2.4s
Hayden Paddon (Hyundai) +3.2s
A three-week inquest in Hamilton is investigating the Olympian's death in 2021 aged 24.