Petter Solberg set the pace in today’s Rally Bulgaria shakedown stage with a time of 1:39.4 min. The Norwegian recorded the fastest time in his pivateer Citroen C4 WRC after his sixth run over the test, which was located near Momin prohod and Gorna Vassilitsa. This was Solberg’s first competitive outing with new co-driver Chris Patterson.
Finishing behind Solberg was Citroen driver Dani Sordo with a time of 1:39.8 min. Sebastien Ogier of the Citroen Junior Team was third fastest ahead of Sebastien Loeb’s factory Citroen and the junior car of Kimi Raikkonen, who both equal fifth fastest. The best time set by a Ford driver was Mikko Hirvonen’s at 1:43.3 min.
The fastest JWRC driver was Alessandro Broccoli in a Renault Clio R3 with Todor Slavov just behind in a similar Clio R3.
The WRC stars provoked a great interest for the Bulgarian spectators as well as the Rally Bulgaria accreditated journalists. Around 5000 spectators attended the shakedown stage held between Momin prohod and Gîrna Vassilitsa near the village of Kîstenets.
2010 Rally Bulgaria – Shakedown results:
01) Petter Solberg (CITRÖEN C4 WRC) – 1m 39,4s
02) Daniel Sordo (CITRÖEN C4 WRC) – 1m 39,8s
03) Sébastien Ogier (CITRÖEN C4 WRC) – 1m 39,9s
04) Sébastien Loeb (CITRÖEN C4 WRC) – 1m 40,5s
05) Kimi Räikkönen (CITRÖEN C4 WRC) – 1m 40,5s
06) Mikko Hirvonen (FORD FOCUS MK2 WRC) – 1m 41,3s
07) Jari-Mati Latvala (FORD FOCUS MK2 WRC) – 1m 42,2s
08) Matthew Wilson (FORD FOCUS MK2 WRC) – 1m 42,6s
09) Per-Gunnar Andersson (FORD FOCUS MK2 WRC) – 1m 42,6s
– Credit: www.rallybulgaria.com