Loeb chooses to start third in order in Wales
Citroen's Sebastien Loeb has decided to start third in the order on the opening day of Wales Rally GB.
Loeb got first pick of position after setting the best time in the qualifying stage on Wednesday [see separate story - HERE] and with rain forecast overnight, it should minimise any time lost from having to 'sweep the road'.
"There might be a little bit of rain but not so much," Loeb told WRC Live according to the official WRC site. "When it's raining it's a lot better to be in front. If it's drier then it's not good to be first so we have chosen third. We don't always have the perfect weather information but I don't think it will be cleaning so much."
Petter Solberg then followed Loeb's example and opted for fourth, with Mikko Hirvonen going for second and Jari-Matti Latvala for fourth. Thierry Neuville will run first, and he is hoping for heavy rain, while Evgeny Novikov will run in 14th and last of the top drivers. Novikov will want it to stay dry, so he benefits from a faster line swept clean of loose gravel by those running before him.
Wales Rally GB now gets underway proper tomorrow [Friday], with SS1, the 20.48 km Dyfnant 1 test, starting at 08.13 hours local time.
The opening day includes two loops of three tests and a competitive distance of 146.46 kilometres.
Wales Rally GB: Day 1 running order:
1. Thierry Neuville Citroen Junior WRT DS3 WRC M
2. Mikko HirvonenCitroen Total WRT DS3 WRC M
3. Sebastien LoebCitroen Total WRT DS3 WRC M
4. Petter SolbergFord WRT Fiesta RS WRC M
5. Jari-Matti LatvalaFord WRT Fiesta RS WRC M
6. Mads OstbergAdapta WRT Fiesta RS WRC M
7. Nasser Al-AttiyahQatar WRT Citroen DS3 WRC M
8. Ott TanakM-Sport Ford WRT Fiesta RS WRC M
9. Matthew WilsonM-Sport Ford WRT Fiesta RS WRC
10. Chris AtkinsonWRC MINI Team Portugal John Cooper Works WRC
11. Martin ProkopFord Fiesta RS WRC
12. Jannie HabigM-Sport Ford WRT Fiesta RS WRC
13. Paulo Nobre WRC MINI Team Portugal John Cooper Works WRC
14. Evgeny NovikovM-Sport Ford WRT Fiesta RS WRC M
