Dani Sordo fastest at pre-Acropolis Shakedown

Spaniard Dani Sordo set the fastest time through today’s Shakedown test for the Acropolis Rally of Greece.

The Total-Citroen driver completed the 3.44km stage in 2min 26.3sec - seven-tenths of a second quicker than BP-Ford team driver Mikko Hirvonen who was his closest rival.

The gravel stage, which was representative of the stage conditions of the opening day of the rally, was located in the countryside north of Athens, five kilometres from the Tatoi Service Park. Conditions throughout the four hour session were hot and dry, with a cloudless sky and a temperature of 32 degrees Celsius.

In the new Subaru Impreza WRC2008, Chris Atkinson and Petter Solberg set the fifth and sixth fastest times respectively.

BP-Ford team driver Jari-Matti Latvala crashed his Ford Focus on his second pass but was able to continue after repairs were made at the service park.

Fastest WRC class shakedown times:

1. Sordo: 2:26.3
2. Hirvonen: 2:27.0
3. Loeb: 2:27.2
4. Galli: 2:27.6
5. Atkinson: 2:28.0
6. P. Solberg: 2:28.2
7. Latvala: 2:28.4
8. Villagra: 2:28.4
9. H. Solberg: 2:29.2
10. Aava: 2:29.6
11. Wilson: 2:30.4
12. Al Qassimi: 3:31.1
13. Rautenbach: 2:31.5
14. Andersson: 2:32.6
15. Ostberg: 2:33.9
16. Gardemeister: 2:34.2
17. Vovos: 2:36.7