SS1: Flying Latvala sets early pace

Jari-Matti Latvala has made a sensational start to ADAC Rallye Deutschland - the first asphalt event of the World Rally Championship season - by setting the fastest time on stage one, Ruwertal/Fell.

Driving a Ford Fiesta RS WRC, Latvala was 1.5s faster than factory Citroen pilot Sebastien Ogier, who reported hitting an obstacle towards the end of the stage in his DS3 WRC.

“It was a surprisingly good start,” said Latvala. “I was pushing hard and was close to going off. The car was too soft in some places.”

Although the stage was held in dry conditions, Citroen pairing Ogier and Sebastien Loeb opted for a mixture of soft and hard compound Michelin tyres. The soft version is designed for use in wet or damp conditions with Citroen opting for more soft covers in the belief rain will fall on the next two runs.

As a result Loeb, unbeaten in Germany since the country joined the world championship in 2002, wasn’t entirely satisfied after completing the opening stage with the third fastest time: “It was tricky but there was no mistake,” he said. “It was not easy to take the rhythm but I am okay.”

Mikko Hirvonen, who was fourth fastest in his works Fiesta on hard compound tyres, said: “It was not a bad run and I’m quite happy with that. Maybe I can improve a bit.”

Behind Petter Solberg in fifth, Dani Sordo was sixth fastest in his factory MINI John Cooper Works WRC, with team-mate Kris Meeke just behind in seventh.

Henning Solberg reported losing the brakes on his Fiesta due to excessive use.

Standings after SS1: