Catalonia – Ogier fastest during shakedown

Le WRC returns to the asphalt roads of Catalonia this weekend, for the penultimate round of the season. Under overcast skies and on wet asphalt, the riders were able to test their mounts on the 4,21 km shakedown of Coll de la Teixeta. Thanks to their soft tires, they are the Toyota which were the fastest on Thursday morning. With threatening weather over the Catalan landscape, Hyundai et M-Sport preferred to ride on hard tires and save their soft compounds for the rest of the rally. Sébastien Ogier achieved the best time in 2'40″1, ahead of Takamoto Katsuta.

At the end of the session, in a 5th attempt, Pierre-Louis Loubet set the 3rd time, ahead of the two other Toyotas of Kalle Rovanperä and Elfyn Evans. The three other Ford Pumas find themselves just behind, with Greensmith 6th, Fourmaux 7th and Breen 8th. The Northerner even rewarded the spectators present with a few extra donuts.

Round and round you go @AdrienFourmaux (I.e.#WRC | #WRCLive | #RallyRACC | #MSPORTERS | @FordPerformance | @MSportLtd pic.twitter.com/HC9FE40xFw

- World Rally Championship (@OfficialWRC) October 20, 2022

To find the Hyundais, you have to dig a little deeper in the rankings. The championship runner-up Ott Tänak achieved the 11th time, while the Belgian Thierry Neuville ranked 14th, just behind stage local Dani Sordo.

The Shakedown rankings: 

ALSO READ > The program for the 2022 Rally of Catalonia