Citroen trio quickest in Jordan Shakedown

Defending World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb was the fastest driver at the pre-event shakedown for the Jordan Rally earlier today, with fellow C4 World Rally Car drivers Petter Solberg and Dani Sordo locking out the top three times.

The four-hour test took place on a 2.3km stage, located 7.5km north of the Dead Sea Service Park.

Weather conditions were dry and sunny throughout, with the temperature peaking at 30 degrees Celsius.

Loeb drove the stage five times, setting his best time on the third pass, and matching it on the fourth.

"Everything went okay, but the road wasn’t very representative of the ones we saw on the recce," Loeb told wrc.com. "Today’s road was fast and there was a lot of grip, while the proper stages are much more twisty and slippery. All we did today was check that everything was okay with the car."

Loeb’s team-mate Dani Sordo and Citroen privateer Petter Solberg set the same second-fastest time, one-tenth slower than Loeb.

"We tried a lot of different things during the session because I haven’t done any testing before the rally," said Petter. "I expect conditions will be much looser on the rally but the main thing is that we’re up there with the best, and one tenth from Seb is nothing, you know?"

BP Ford Abu Dhabi Team drivers Jari-Matti Latvala and Mikko Hirvonen were fourth and fifth fastest.

Shakedown times of the WRC drivers

01. LOEB. Citroen C4 WRC. 1:13.4
02. SORDO. Citroen C4 WRC. 1:13.5
03. P. SOLBERG. Citroen C4 WRC. 1:13.5
04. LATVALA. Ford Focus RS WRC 09. 1:13.7
05. HIRVONEN. Ford Focus RS WRC 09. 1:13.8
06. OGIER. Citroen C4 WRC. 1:13.9
07. VILLAGRA. Ford Focus RS WRC 08. 1:15.1
08. WILSON. Ford Focus RS WRC 08. 1:15.2
09. H.SOLBERG. Ford Focus RS WRC 08. 1:15.3
10. RAIKKONEN. Citroen C4 WRC. 1:16.2