Richard Mason has opened an 11.3 second lead over Hayden Paddon in the first special stage of Leg 2 of the Otago Rally.
Mason covered the 29 kilometres of Ramrock Road north of Dunedin in 15m 55.9s in his Subaru Impreza to take the lead.
Paddon (Mitsubishi Evo 9) is second, followed by Stewart Taylor in a similar car.
Then come Brett Martin (Evo 9), Callum McInnes (WRX), and Evo 9 drivers Deean Sumner and Sloan Cox.
