
Rovanpera managed to tame changeable conditions to win three of the four high-speed gravel stages to lead Toyota team-mate Elfyn Evans by 3.9s at midday service.
Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville completed the loop in third (+12.3s) while Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta inherited fourth (+16.0s) after Esapekka Lappi crashed out in stage five.