Rally de France: Dani Sordo tops shakedown in Strasbourg
Prodrive WRC Team driver Dani Sordo made the perfect start to Rallye de France with fastest time at the shakedown stage in Strasbourg
The Spaniard's Mini was three tenths of a second quicker than Ford's Jari-Matti Latvala, the Petter Solberg's factory Fiesta RS WRC third quickest, nine tenths of a second behind Sordo.
WRC series leader Sebastien Loeb was fourth quickest on the Strasbourg stage, 1.4 seconds off the benchmark.
Sordo said: "It's nice to come back with the fastest time. I like this surface and I like this rally. We were close to the win last year and it would be nice to try to fight like that again this time, but we have to remember this is Sebastien [Loeb's] hometown."
Running as an asphalt event, the crews drive the 2.4-mile stage as shakedown rather than qualifying - the drivers run in competitive order rather than selecting their position on the road.
The event starts with a superspecial stage around the centre of Strasbourg this afternoon.
Previous article
Yvan Muller backed for top-10 finish on Rally de France
Next article
Sebastien Loeb aiming to recreate memories on Rally de France
About this article
| Series | WRC |
| Drivers | Dani Sordo |
| Author | David Evans |
Why the casualty of rallying's evolution should still be cherished
The WRC's support categories are in a process of streamlining that will spell the end of a formalised 2WD world championship-level category. While its relevance to the top level has been questioned for some time, that doesn't mean it should be swept quietly under the carpet
Why WRC's hybrid path could leave it at a crossroads
With all three major manufacturers committing to the World Rally Championship’s hybrid era from 2022, the future of the series is assured for now, but it could lead to trickier twists and turns further down the road
How Tanak froze out the competition at the Arctic Rally
Ott Tanak made up for a disastrous Monte Carlo Rally by leading all the way on the snow-kissed stages of the Arctic Rally Finland and in the process hit back at an event Toyota had been expected to dominate
What to expect from the WRC's venture to the Arctic
This week's Arctic Rally Finland will bring the World Rally Championship into new territory. And, almost without exception, the service park can't wait for the subzero challenge to commence
How Ogier achieved a fitting Monte Carlo farewell
Against pandemic-shaped odds, the World Rally Championship season opener went ahead in Monte Carlo last weekend as a familiar face again took top spot. But for an emotional Sebastien Ogier, his record-breaking eighth win meant more than most
What to look out for in the 2021 WRC
As the 2021 World Rally Championship prepares to launch amid tight COVID-19 restrictions in Monte Carlo, here are the eight things unrelated to the pandemic that you should keep an eye on this year
Evans on the talking points of WRC 2021
He came close to the title last year, and now Toyota's Elfyn Evans gives his verdict on what to expect from 2021 as the World Rally Championship prepares to reconvene for the Monte Carlo season opener
Why Britain's continued WRC absence is a wake-up call
OPINION: With Rally GB dropping off the World Rally Championship calendar for the second year in a row, one of Britain's best-attended sporting events faces an uncertain future. It's an unfortunate situation that points to troubling times ahead
