Meeke ahead of Kopecky… but behind Hevia

From the shakedown, the favorites showed the tip of their noses... behind local driver Alberto Hevia. Skoda Spain driver, Hevia made everyone agree by achieving 1'46"0 on his third pass on the shakedown, a time which he was unable to improve afterwards. Behind, everyone's performance was influenced by the choice of tires. The BFGoodrich A11 (soft rubber) proved to be the most effective on a section whose length did not exceed 3km, but the BFGoodrich A31 (harder rubber) will perhaps take the advantage during the rally.

Behind Hevia, the best times were the prerogative of Kris Meeke (Peugeot , 1'46"6) and Jan Kopecky (Skoda, 1'47"2), both on soft tires. Nicolas Vouilloz (Peugeot, 1'48"1), Freddy Loix (Peugeot, 1'48"4) and Giandomenico Basso (1'48"5) achieved the best times on the A31 tires. Handicapped by a gearbox problem, Vouilloz was limited to three passes. Note the presence of a Proton for Guy Wilks (1'51"6), an Opel for Toni Gardemeister (1'51"6) and the Skoda of Frenchman Julien Maurin (1'54"5).

Shakedown Ranking :
1. Hevia (E) ? Skoda? 1m 46.0s
2. Meeke (UK)? Peugeot? +0.6s
3. Kopecky (CZ)? Skoda – +1.2s
4. Vouilloz (F)? Peugeot – +2.1s
5. Loix (B)? Peugeot – +2.4s
6. Basso (I)? Abarth – +2.5s
7. Solowow (PL)? Peugeot – +3.5s
8. Fontana (I)? Peugeot – +3.9s
9. Fuster (E)? Abarth – +3.9s
10. Wilks (UK)? Proton – +5.6s
11. Maurin (F)? Skoda – +8.5s
12. Mark (E)? Ralliart – +9.3s