World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb was the fastest driver at this morning’s pre-event Shakedown test for Rally Argentina.

The four-hour test took place on a 6.23km gravel road between Carlos Paz and Cabalango, 11km from the Service Park. Weather conditions were dry throughout with clear skies and a temperature of 22°C.
Loeb, who has won this rally for the last four years, made three passes through the stage in his Citroen Total team C4 WRC, recording a best time of 4min 57.8sec on his final attempt.
“Like many of the roads on the recce the stage was very sandy and slippery, but I think we’ve found a good set-up,” Loeb told wrc.com.

The dry and dusty surface of the Shakedown road contrasted sharply with last year’s wet and muddy conditions, but Loeb said it was almost as challenging to drive. “It’s difficult when it’s like this because the gravel is so fine and dusty it’s almost like driving on a beach,” he explained. “Grip is a problem and it’s so powdery that it will be tough for the first cars though each stage. Yes, the roads will eventually clean down to a harder base, but it will take more cars than usual.“However I don’t think it will stay dry for the rally. I think we will get some rain, and that will help the grip and make the stages a bit faster and more exciting to drive. Damp stages would be my preference,” he added.

BP Ford Abu Dhabi Team driver Mikko Hirvonen set the second fastest time, while Loeb’s team-mate Dani Sordo was third.

The opening stage of the rally, the Cordoba Stadium Super Special, gets underway this evening from 1900hrs.

Rally Argentina top 10 shakedown times:

1. LOEB. Citroen C4 WRC. 4:57.8
2. HIRVONEN. Ford Focus RS WRC 08. 4:58.4
3. SORDO. Citroen C4 WRC. 5:00.1
4. P. SOLBERG. Citroen Xsara WRC. 5:02.2
5. H. SOLBERG. Ford Focus RS WRC 08. 5:02.4
6. LATVALA. Ford Focus RS WRC 08. 5:05.0
7. WILSON. Ford Focus RS WRC 08. 5:08.6
8. OGIER. Citroen C4 WRC. 5:08.7
19. VILLAGRA. Ford Focus RS WRC 08. 5:10.1
10. RAUTENBACH. Citroen C4 WRC. 5:10.3