Solberg quickest in Rally Bugaria Shakedown

Petter Solberg: fastest in shakedown of 2010 Rally Bulgaria

Pre-event Shakedown for Rally Bulgaria saw Peter Solberg set the fastest times in his Citroen C4 WRC over a 2.65km tarmac road from Momin Prohod to Gorna Vassiitsa Village, 9km from the main Service Park in Dolna Banya. Solberg set a winning time of 1m 39.9s with the help of co-driver Chris Patterson. “Not bad, eh?” said Petter after completing his sixth and final run. “The car felt good and I’m feeling confident about the partnership inside the car too. The shakedown road wasn’t exactly like the roads we saw on the recce – it’s a bit more slippery – but the car set-up worked well.”

Dani Sordo in his factory Citroen set the second best time of the day, four-tenths slower than the time set by Petter, while Citroen Junior team driver Sebastien Ogier managed 1m 39.9s on the same course. Loeb and Raikonnen were fourth fastest setting identical times of 1m 40.5s. “He’s more comfortable on the tarmac, that’s for sure,” commented Raikkonen’s co-driver Kaj Lindstrom. “There was a delay at the start before our first run, so we lost all the heat from the tyres, but things got better from there. He went well at our pre-event test and we’ve done a good time here. I’m excited about this rally…”

“He is certainly very fast on tarmac,” acknowledged Loeb. “I think the most difficult part for him will be to be fast on the first loop – with only two passes on the recce. But his first pass today was okay, so we’ll see tomorrow. It’s certainly going to be interesting. Asked whether he thought the Finn could be a serious threat this weekend, Loeb said: ‘I hope not.”

Rally Bulgaria flags-off tomorrow, 9th of July 2010.

1……P. SOLBERG. ……..Citroen C4 WRC…………………. 1:39.4
2……SORDO. …………….Citroen C4 WRC………………….1:39.8
3……OGIER. ……………..Citroen C4 WRC………………….1:39.9
=4….LOEB. ……………….Citroen C4 WRC………………….1:40.5
=4….RAIKKONEN. …….Citroen C4 WRC………………….1:40.5
6……HIRVONEN. ……….Ford Focus RS WRC 09…………1:41.3
7……LATVALA. ………….Ford Focus RS WRC 09…………1:42.2
=8….P-G ANDERSSON. .Ford Focus RS WRC 08…………1:42.6
=8….WILSON……………..Ford Focus RS WRC 08…………1:42.6