New Zealander Hayden Paddon has survived a frustrating first day of Rally Sweden near Karlstad, finishing sixth in the Super 2000 class on Saturday (NZT).
Paddon and co-driver John Kennard are contesting the second round of the Super 2000 World Rally Championship after winning last year's production world rally championship.
Paddon, now based in Montgat, Spain, said his new Skoda Fabia car lost over seven minutes on the third stage after hitting a snow bank.
"It's been trying, but more frustrating that anything," he said.
"Losing nearly eight minutes stuck in a snow bank and then a puncture in the afternoon didn't help."
Paddon's pace kept improving as the day progressed, and he set the second and third fastest SWRC times on each of the four afternoon stages.
He holds 27th position overall in a field which contains 21 world rally cars.
NZN