The first tyre choice could be crucial because not only will it have to cover around 100 competitive kilometres but choices will need to be made some four hours ahead of SS2! The conditions could well evolve between the moment the cars leave service at 6pm and Barles-Seyne which starts at 10:11pm…
Where does the 100 competitive kilometres come from? Thursday stages are only 40-something kilometres and then there is service on Friday morning before next stages.
But there is indeed some time between tyre fitting and SS2. But the weather seems quite stable.