Citroën Junior Team driver Evgeny Novikov set the fastest time at this morning’s pre Acropolis Shakedown session.
The four-hour test took place on a 3.10km rough gravel road close to the Service Park in Loutraki. Weather conditions were dry throughout with clear skies and a sweltering temperature of 36°C.
The 18-year-old Russian, who took a career best fifth place on the last round in Sardinia, made five passes through the stage in his Citroen C4 WRC, recording his best time of 2min 19.8sec on his final attempt.

World Champion Sebastien Loeb set the second fastest time in another C4 WRC, while Munchi’s team driver Federico Villagra was third in a Ford Focus RS WRC.
Loeb said he was satisfied with his time, especially after a difficult test in Greece last month. “When we tested here the conditions were very different,” he explained. “It was raining like hell, cold - about five degrees one morning - and we even had hail storms. It was terrible. Today we worked on the suspension and tried to see which set-up is the best. What we’ve found seems to work okay.”

The opening stage of the rally, the 25km Harvati, gets underway on Friday morning at 0848hrs.

WRC Acropolis Rally of Greece shakedown times:

1. NOVIKOV. Citroën C4 WRC. 2:19.8
2. LOEB. Citroën C4 WRC. 2:20.1
3. VILLAGRA. Ford Focus RS WRC 08. 2:20.2
4. HIRVONEN. Ford Focus RS WRC 08. 2:20.4
5. WILSON. Ford Focus RS WRC 08. 2:20.6
6. LATVALA. Ford Focus RS WRC 08. 2:20.8
7. SORDO. Citroën C4 WRC. 2:21.2
8. P. SOLBERG. Citroën Xsara WRC. 2:22.3
9. OGIER. Citroën C4 WRC. 2:22.3
10. H. SOLBERG. Ford Focus RS WRC 08. 2:22.6
11. ÖSTBERG. Subaru Impreza WRC. 2:23.0
=13. RAUTENBACH. Citroën C4 WRC. 2:26.5
=13. AL QASSIMI. Ford Focus RS WRC. 2:26.5