WRC Rallye de France: Jari-Matti Latvala tops shakedown for VW
Volkswagen driver Jari-Matti Latvala's decision to take a fourth run at Thursday morning's Rally of France shakedown stage netted him the fastest time on the two-mile test
The Finn won the stage by 1.2 seconds from Citroen's Kris Meeke, with Latvala's team-mate Sebastien Ogier and Hyundai's Dani Sordo third, half a second down on the Northern Irishman's DS3 WRC.
Latvala said: "When I went to the pre-event test for France, there was some understeer with the car and there were some things I wanted to try this morning.
"I have got really good confidence with it now. The shakedown was good."
Latvala's last asphalt outing in Germany ended in disappointment when he crashed out of a comfortable lead.
He says he is determined to make up for that mistake in France.
"I want to carry on where I left off in Germany," he said.
"It's still my dream to win an asphalt round of the championship and that's what I will try to do here."
Meeke was the first potential beneficiary of Latvala's slip-up in Trier, before the Citroen man damaged a wheel and was forced out. Meeke has put all of that behind him.
"We're just looking forward to getting out there and driving," said Meeke.
"There's virtually no vineyards on the route for this year's event - the stages are quite different in nature and they are very, very fast."
Ogier will be world champion if he scores six points more than Latvala this weekend.
He said: "It would be nice to win the championship in France, but that's the cherry on the cake - the important thing is to win it."
Volkswagen's Andreas Mikkelsen was fifth fastest, with Germany winner Thierry Neuville sixth.
The rally starts from Strasbourg on Thursday evening, with the first competitive stage running on Friday morning.
New push to resolve 2015 World Rally Championship format row
FIA unveils plans for GT Cup in major rallies
The outrageous mountain-climbers that became Pikes Peak legends
The outrageous mountain-climbers that became Pikes Peak legends The outrageous mountain-climbers that became Pikes Peak legends
Ranking lost WRC legend Richard Burns' 10 best rallies
Ranking lost WRC legend Richard Burns' 10 best rallies Ranking lost WRC legend Richard Burns' 10 best rallies
What to expect from the WRC's venture to the Arctic
What to expect from the WRC's venture to the Arctic What to expect from the WRC's venture to the Arctic
Latvala to make WRC comeback at Rally Finland
Latvala to make WRC comeback at Rally Finland Latvala to make WRC comeback at Rally Finland
Latvala: Rovanpera "on another planet" to score dominant WRC Estonia win
Latvala: Rovanpera "on another planet" to score dominant WRC Estonia win Latvala: Rovanpera "on another planet" to score dominant WRC Estonia win
Latvala is a victim of blame culture
Latvala is a victim of blame culture Latvala is a victim of blame culture
2024 NASCAR Cup Series schedule revealed
2024 NASCAR Cup Series schedule revealed 2024 NASCAR Cup Series schedule revealed
Grosjean files for arbitration against Andretti IndyCar team
Grosjean files for arbitration against Andretti IndyCar team Grosjean files for arbitration against Andretti IndyCar team
How the gender performance gap is hindering womens’ progress in motorsport
How the gender performance gap is hindering womens’ progress in motorsport How the gender performance gap is hindering womens’ progress in motorsport
Why Aston Martin is right to return to Le Mans
Why Aston Martin is right to return to Le Mans Why Aston Martin is right to return to Le Mans
How Tanak and M-Sport nailed Chile tactics to end their WRC barren spell
How Tanak and M-Sport nailed Chile tactics to end their WRC barren spell How Tanak and M-Sport nailed Chile tactics to end their WRC barren spell
How the WRC saw a different side to Rovanpera in his latest Acropolis triumph
How the WRC saw a different side to Rovanpera in his latest Acropolis triumph How the WRC saw a different side to Rovanpera in his latest Acropolis triumph
How iconic cars from each WRC era compare at the hands of Petter Solberg
How iconic cars from each WRC era compare at the hands of Petter Solberg How iconic cars from each WRC era compare at the hands of Petter Solberg
How the WRC title race was ignited by Evans in Finland
How the WRC title race was ignited by Evans in Finland How the WRC title race was ignited by Evans in Finland
How Rovanpera reached a Loeb-like level in Estonia WRC domination
How Rovanpera reached a Loeb-like level in Estonia WRC domination How Rovanpera reached a Loeb-like level in Estonia WRC domination
How Ogier held his nerve to repeat Toyota's Safari WRC rout
How Ogier held his nerve to repeat Toyota's Safari WRC rout How Ogier held his nerve to repeat Toyota's Safari WRC rout
The Neuville splash and grab that ends Hyundai’s WRC win drought
The Neuville splash and grab that ends Hyundai’s WRC win drought The Neuville splash and grab that ends Hyundai’s WRC win drought
How Rovanpera fired the WRC a timely reminder of his class in Portugal
How Rovanpera fired the WRC a timely reminder of his class in Portugal How Rovanpera fired the WRC a timely reminder of his class in Portugal
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.