Citroën C3 WRC driver Kris Meeke topped the timesheets on Thursday afternoon in Corsica for the Shakedown of this weekend’s Tour de Corse, the fourth round of the FIA’s 2018 World Rally Championship.
The Tour de Corse's 5.45 kilometre-long shakedown stage, contested in Sorbo-Ocagnano, was unusual in that it featured many deep cuts. And with the heavy rain that has fallen on the island in recent days, the corners proved to be especially greasy.
Normally, in these type of conditions, only the drivers who are first or second on the road have any hopes of setting good times before the Tarmac becomes covered with mud. And yet Meeke, running fourth on the road, immediately went to the top of the timesheets on his first run.
“It was a tricky shakedown, with yesterday's rainfall and since it was getting muddier and muddier,” said the Ulsterman. “I felt comfortable in the car today, I was able to handle the grip conditions, and that's what matters most to me.”
Next up were all three of the Hyundai i20 WRCs in line astern behind the Citroën, albeit that the closest challenger, Mikkelsen, was more than two seconds behind; a lot of time in just 5.4km! Mikkelsen headed teammates Neuville and Sordo were third and fourth respectively.
Behind the Hyundai train from Alzenau came Ford’s Cockermouth finest with reigning WRC champ Ogier in fifth and teammate Evans in close attendance in sixth. Ogier currently leads the WRC standing with two wins already in the first three rallies of the year!
Next up was the second C3 was returning nine-time WRC champion Loeb who struggled initially with the tricky conditions, before then becoming the only driver to improve on his second run to claim seventh fastest, suggesting he could be a force to be reckoned this weekend.
Top 10 Shakedown Times
1. Meeke/Nagle Citroën C3 WRC 4m 00.8s
2. Mikkelsen/Jaeger Hyundai i20 WRC +2.2s
3. Neuville/Gilsoul Hyundai i20 WRC +3.0s
4. Sordo/Del Barrio Hyundai i20 WRC +3.5s
5. Ogier/Ingrassia Ford Fiesta WRC +4.3
6. Evans/Mills Ford Fiesta WRC +5.3s
7. Loeb/Elena Citroën C3 WRC +5.6s
8. Tänak/Jarveoja Toyota Yaris WRC +7.7s
9. Latvala/Anttila Toyota Yaris WRC +7.7s
10. Lappi/Ferm Toyota Yaris WRC +7.8s
