Sebastien Loeb posted the fastest time at this morning's shakedown stage for the Catalunya Rally. The Citroen driver was one second quicker than anybody else, with the chasing pack led by reigning Junior World Rally champion Sebastien Ogier (Citroen Junior).
Loeb's chief title rival, Ford man Mikko Hirvonen, was 2.5sec slower than the Frenchman, whose Citroen teammate Dani Sordo - the man who has finished second on this event for the last three seasons – was third quickest.
Martin Prokop was the fastest Junior driver, 1.6sec ahead of his fellow Citroen C2 driver Hans Weijs, while Pirelli Star Driver Nicos Thomas crashed on the third corner of shakedown. The Cypriot's Mitsubishi did not take any further part in shakedown, but it will start the Salou-based penultimate WRC round this evening.