Crew number 9 Daniel Popov and Angel Bashkehayov reired from Monbat Rally Sliven after a crash in the opening stage Ablanovo. Popov pitched his Peugeot 208 Rally4 into a roll into the first right hander after he missed the braking point on the wet tarmac.

Both Popov and Bashkehayov escaped unharmed after the heavy crash. The stage was stopped immediately and restarted after the car was removed.

Ugur Soylu and Aras Dincer (Skoda Fabia Rally2) won the opening Ablanovo and took the lead of the rally. Two time winners Miroslav Angelov and Georgi Gadzhev (Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo) trail the crew from Turkey with 1,5 seconds.