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Sordo heads pack in shakedown |
Citroen's Daniel Sordo was quickest in the shakedown for the Rallye Monte Carlo on Thursday morning, the opening round in the 2008 FIA World Rally Championship.
Sordo completed the 5.03 kilometre test, near Vernoux-en-Vivarais, in 2 minutes 25.2 seconds - just 0.3 seconds up on his team-mate, Sebastien Loeb, who was 'best of the rest' in the sister C4 WRC. Loeb and Sordo both opted for three runs through the 'stage'.
Petter Solberg meanwhile was third for Subaru, 1 second off Sordo, while Francois Duval was fourth on his 'guest' outing with the Stobart Ford team.
Chris Atkinson came in fifth, followed by BP Ford Abu Dhabi duo Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala. Next up was Gigi Galli, who did five runs over the test, while Matthew Wilson and Henning Solberg rounded out the top ten.
Suzuki's Toni Gardemeister was twelfth on his debut in the new SX4 WRC, his best time - a 2 minute 34.9 second effort.
The ceremonial start for the Rallye Monte Carlo now takes place this evening at 17.30 hours in Valence. The action then begins 'proper' with two night tests, the first, the 28.12 kilometre-run through St Jean en Royans-Col de La Chau, getting underway at 18.46 hours [all times local].
Leading shakedown times:1.
Daniel Sordo Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC
2mins 25.2secs M
2.
Sebastien Loeb Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC
2mins 25.5secs M
3.
Petter Solberg Subaru WRT Impreza WRC 2007
2mins 26.2secs M
4.
Francois Duval Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07
2mins 26.3secs M
5.
Chris Atkinson Subaru WRT Impreza WRC 2007
2mins 27.0secs M
6.
Mikko Hirvonen BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07
2mins 27.2secs M
7.
Jari-Matti Latvala BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07
2mins 27.9secs M
8.
Gigi Galli Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07
2mins 28.2secs M
9.
Matthew Wilson Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07
2mins 29.6secs 10.
Henning Solberg Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07
2mins 30.1secs 11.
Khalid Al-Qassimi BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07
2mins 33.4secs 12.
Toni Gardemeister Suzuki WRT SX4 WRC
2mins 34.9secs M
13.
Conrad Rautenbach Citroen Xsara WRC
2mins 35.6secs 14.
Jean-Marie Cuoq Peugeot 307 WRC
2mins 40.3secs 15.
P-G Andersson Suzuki WRT SX4 WRC
2mins 42.5secs M
Key:
M denotes Manufacturer entry
all times unofficial
