Latvala quickest in Rally New Zealand Shakedown

Finn Jari-Matti Latvala was the fastest driver at the pre-event shakedown for Rally New Zealand earlier today, with defending World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb his closest rival.

The four hour test took place on a 1.5km asphalt road in the Auckland Domain - a park nestled in the centre of the city. The same section will be driven competitively on Friday as SS9. Weather conditions were dry and sunny throughout with a temperature peaking at 16 degrees Celsius.

With the vast majority of the rally based on gravel roads, the sealed-surface Shakedown was of limited value as a set-up exercise, but was an unusual opportunity for the drivers to recce a rally stage at competitive speed.

"I was determined to set the fastest time because in the past on this surface I’ve lost out to the pace of the Citroens," said Ford Focus driver Latvala, who posted his best time on his sixth run. "We struggled on the asphalt Super Special in Australia last year but now I think we’ve found a set-up which gives us an edge."

Loeb set his best time - which was two-tenths slower than Latvala’s - on his fourth and final pass. "It wasn’t a difficult Shakedown but we weren’t able to get much of a feeling for the event on it," said the Frenchman. "Normally Shakedown gives us a final chance to adjust the set-up, but with no pre-event test we haven’t been able to do anything much. It should be okay though, we’re not changing the set-up too much from rally to rally."

After a ceremonial start in the Auckland this evening, the opening stage of the rally, the 11.09km Waipu Gorge, gets underway at 0903hrs on Friday.

Shakedown times of the WRC drivers:

1. LATVALA. Ford Focus RS WRC 09. 1:07.3
2. LOEB. Citroen C4 WRC. 1:07.5
3. HIRVONEN. Ford Focus RS WRC 09. 1:07.6
4. P. SOLBERG. Citroen C4 WRC. 1:07.7
5. SORDO. Citroen C4 WRC. 1:07.8
6. H.SOLBERG. Ford Focus RS WRC 08. 1:07.8
7. OGIER. Citroen C4 WRC. 1:08.3
8. VILLAGRA. Ford Focus RS WRC 08. 1:08.5
9. WILSON. Ford Focus RS WRC 08. 1:08.5