The rally proper starts today with a 25km stage on the way from Narbonne to Castellon.

McRae is in his element on the European terrain but he admits the African sand will pose a real test, despite his experience on the Safari Rally in Kenya.

He said: “In Africa, I will be facing totally new conditions, like the sand and the dunes. I have done some driving on sand in South Africa, but I am expecting something different.

“The length of the legs is impressive, that of the special stages equally so.

“The longest leg is over 1,000km, and the longest special stage, between Tidjikja and Nema, is 736km long. The whole route, over 11,000km, just cannot be compared to the World Rally Championship. There is just no way to compare them.”

Fellow Nissan driver Kenjiro Shinozuka won yesterday’s stage to prove his horrific crash last year was well and truly out of his system.

The Japanese driver suffered head injuries after crashing on a sand dune but returned to the event in fine form to pip fellow Nissan ace Giniel de Villiers into second.

Mitsubishi’s Miki Biasion – like McRae a former World Rally Champion – was third and reigning champion Hiroshi Masuoka fourth, also in a Mitsubishi.

Mark Round, who is based in Huddersfield, ended the stage 46th while fellow Land Rover driver Paul Green, from Chelmsford, was 107th.

In the bike section, Italian Matteo Graziani caused a surprise by clocking the fastest time, beating pre-event favourites and fellow KTM riders Cyril Despres and Richard Sainct into second and third respectively.

East Sussex-based Patsy Quick was 130th on her KTM as she chases the women’s title in just her second year in the event while Derbyshire’s Mike Extance, riding a Honda, was a fine 16th.

Reigning truck champion Vladimir Tchaguine set the pace in his Kamaz, with DAF pair Johannes de Rooy and Hans Bekx second and third respectively.