Solberg tops Qualifying Stage in Greece

Petter Solberg has set the fastest time on the Qualifying Stage to earn the right to select his starting position first for the opening day of the Acropolis Rally.

Driving a Ford World Rally Team Fiesta RS WRC, Solberg and co-driver Chris Patterson completed the 6.20-kilometre test near Loutraki in a time of 4m11.976s.

“It’s good to be first, very important in fact,” said Solberg. “The car works well and we should be strong for this rally. I feel confident and think I will start further down [the order]. Even when it’s raining it dries very quick when it stops. The best choice is to start further back for sure.”

Solberg’s Ford team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala, back in the FIA World Rally Championship powered by Nokia following his recovery from a broken collarbone, took 4m12.074s to complete the test.

“There was one corner when I thought I was in first but I was in second and I pulled third by mistake,” said Latvala, who was second fastest. “The engine died just a tiny bit on the uphill but I quickly got it back. We only lost a couple of tenths but after a long time out of the car this was a good boost.”

Citroen’s Sebastien Loeb was third fastest with a best time of 4m12.702s with M-Sport Fiesta driver Evgeny Novikov fourth quickest in 4m13.018s. Mikko Hirvonen was next up in the second factory Citroen after a half-spin with Thierry Neuville sixth quickest in his Citroen Junior entry.

Mads Ostberg was seventh in his Adapta Fiesta with Ott Tanak eighth, Martin Prokop ninth and Nasser Al-Attiyah rounding out the top 10 for the Qatar World Rally Team. Armindo Araujo was the leading MINI John Cooper Works WRC driver in 12th position, one place behind Brazil World Rally Team’s Daniel Oliveira.

Rain prior to the start of the stage left road conditions damp with patches of water forming in places. However, crews reported a clean line through the run.

The top 13 crews will select their starting position at 12:30hrs local time.