Carlsson quickest in final shakedown

Carlsson completed four runs of the special 4 km test by the end of the day as he familiarised himself with the privateer Mitsubishi Lancer WRC he will be using this weekend.

Carlsson was granted a late switch yesterday to move from his Super 1600 entry over the privateer Lancer originally entered by Harri Rovanpera. He has been on the pace right from the outset in his new machine, having run in third this morning, matching former winner Sebastien Loeb's pace early in the session.

Manfred Stohl set the second fastest time in his Manufacturer 2 OMV Peugeot, 0.2 seconds slower than the Swede. Stohl completed 11 runs of the stage - morethan anyone else.

Mikko Hirvonen's time from earlier in the shakedown was good enough for third overall, only 0.3 seconds off the Carlsson's pace.

Hirvonen has competed in the rally three times previously, but has a best finish of ninth in 2004 when he was driving for Subaru. He is targeting a podium finish this year after teammate Marcus Gronholm's victory in Monte Carlo.

Henning Solberg was fifth quickest in the OMV Peugeot 307, ahead of Gigi Galli in his privateer Mitsubishi. Last year's winner Petter Solberg was sixth quickest for Subaru.

The rally proper begins tomorrow, with the 18 km stage of Fredriksberg 1 at 8am local time.

Pos  Driver         Make        Time
 1.  Carlsson       Mitsubishi  1:56.6
 2.  Stohl          Peugeot     1:56.8
 3.  Hirvonen       Ford        1:56.9
 4.  Loeb           Citroen     1:57.6
 5.  Solberg        Subaru      1:57.8
 6.  Galli          Mitsubishi  1:58.0
 7.  Schie          Ford        1:58.5
 8.  Atkinson       Subaru      1:58.9
 9.  Tuohino        Citroen     1:59.0
10.  Gronholm       Ford        1:59.1