Kris Meeke the fastest at the Catalan shakedown

Contested over two short kilometers not far from Salou, the shakedown of Rally of Catalonia 2019 benefited from dry conditions this Thursday morning, in contrast to the downpours that have hit the region in recent days.

And as is often the case this year, Chris Meeke set the pace on the mixed asphalt and dirt course, by imposing its Toyota Yaris WRC in 1'31″6 on his third visit after seeing the Hyundai de Thierry Neuville and Dani Sordo dominate the first two passages.

@RallyRACC Shakedown is done and dusted!  #TOYOTA #YarisWRC #RallyRACC #WRC #ToyotaGAZOORacing #TGR_WRC #Rallying pic.twitter.com/rh7L8mp2c6

- Toyota GAZOO Racing WRT (@TGR_WRC) October 24, 2019

The Briton is three tenths ahead of Dani Sordo and seven tenths of the Toyota of Jari-Matti Latvala. Teemu Suninen shows himself to be the best of the clan M-Sport Ford in fourth position at 1″3 and precedes Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota), author of a final time of 1’33″1 on his fourth pass.

Next in ranking Ott Tänak (Toyota), Sébastien Loeb (Hyundai), victim of a puncture on its 3rd pass, Sébastien Ogier (Citroën), Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) and Elfyn Evans (M-Sport Ford) to complete the top 10. Esapekka Lappi (Citroën) only ranks 15th, more than 5″ behind. The Finn was accompanied for a time by Spanish motorcycle rider Laia Sanz on this shakedown.

Apart from an unexplained puncture during our 3rd pass, nothing to report on this shakedown which is not very representative of the rally.

We are in the rhythm and the sensations are good with the #i20WRC Cup

Ready to go into battle for @HMSGOfficial #WRC #RallyRACC pic.twitter.com/ZaVyco1O5v

- Sébastien Loeb (@SebastienLoeb) October 24, 2019

In R5, Eric Camilli, entered in WRC2 with the Citroën C3 R5 – Saintéloc Racing, dominated the proceedings in 1'35″5, a tenth ahead of Nikolay Gryazin (Skoda Fabia R5), and two tenths ahead of another Citroën C3 R5, the by Mads Ostberg, entered in WRC2 Pro.

The Rally of Catalonia will begin tomorrow with SS1 of Gandesa, contested over 7km on gravel, and launched at 9:23 a.m. The entire event can be followed live on our website via our live-text.

Shakedown Ranking Rally de Catalunya: