Source: WRC.com
Citroen privateer Petter Solberg got his partnership with new
co-driver Chris Patterson off to a perfect start earlier today by
setting the fastest time at the pre-event shakedown for Rally Bulgaria.
The
four hour test – a prelude to this weekend’s rally – took place on a
2.65km asphalt road from Momin Prohod to Gorna Vassiitsa Village, 9km
from the main Service Park in Dolna Banya. After overnight rain,
conditions were dry and cloudy throughout, with a temperature peaking at
12 degrees Celsius.
"Not bad, eh?" said Petter after completing
his sixth and final run in a session-winning time of 1m 39.4s. "The car
felt good and I’m feeling confident about the partnership inside the car
too. The shakedown road wasn’t exactly like the roads we saw on the
recce – it’s a bit more slippery – but the car set-up worked well."
Fellow
Citroen C4 WRC driver Dani Sordo was closest to Solberg’s time,
stopping the clock four-tenths slower, while Citroen Junior team driver
Sebastien Ogier, also in a C4, rounded off the top three times with a 1m
39.9s.
Former Formula One champion and WRC newcomer Kimi
Raikkonen underlined his skill on asphalt by sharing the fourth fastest
time – 1m 40.5s – with six times World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb.
"He’s
more comfortable on the tarmac, that’s for sure," commented Raikkonen’s
co-driver Kaj Lindstrom. "There was a delay at the start before our
first run, so we lost all the heat from the tyres, but things got better
from there. He went well at our pre-event test and we’ve done a good
time here. I’m excited about this rally…"
"He is certainly very
fast on tarmac," acknowledged Loeb. "I think the most difficult part
for him will be to be fast on the first loop – with only two passes on
the recce. But his first pass today was okay, so we’ll see tomorrow.
It’s certainly going to be interesting. Asked whether he thought the
Finn could be a serious threat this weekend, Loeb said: ‘I hope not."
Rally
Bulgaria gets underway on Friday (9 July) at 0900hrs when crews leave
the Service Park for four all-asphalt stages in the Rila mountains.
Follow this
link to find out how to follow the rally live on
wrc.com.
Here are the Shakedown times of the leading WRC drivers:
1. P. SOLBERG. Citroen C4 WRC. 1:39.4
2.
SORDO. Citroen C4 WRC. 1:39.8
3. OGIER.
Citroen C4 WRC. 1:39.9
=4. LOEB. Citroen C4 WRC.
1:40.5
=4. RAIKKONEN. Citroen C4 WRC. 1:40.5
6.
HIRVONEN. Ford Focus RS WRC 09. 1:41.3
7. LATVALA.
Ford Focus RS WRC 09. 1:42.2
=8. P-G ANDERSSON.
Ford Focus RS WRC 08. 1:42.6
=8. WILSON. Ford Focus
RS WRC 08. 1:42.6
FUCK ISRAEL 