Loeb and Ogier hoping for success in Wales Rally GB

The weather seems to be on everyone’s minds today as teams prepare for the kick of this year’s Wales Rally GB in Cardiff tonight.

Last night drivers tested out the new special stage in Cardiff Bay at this year’s Wales Rally GB shakedown.

Speaking to ITV Wales last night seven times World Champion Sebastien Loeb said that the risk of ice and fog in Wales made it one of the more challenging stages of the WRC.

Fellow Citroen driver, Sebastien Ogier – who’s in contention for second place in this year’s drivers championship – said that he was looking forward to the gravel tracks despite the unpredictable weather.

A podium finish for both this weekend would complete an excellent season for the Citroen team.

Good times in shakedown show the pair are off to a promising start with Ogier quickest last night with a time of 1:13.7 while Loeb posted a time of 1:14.3 to be second in Cardiff Bay last night.

Both drivers are hoping to be crowned champion in 2011 – when new rules bring in a different “more difficult to handle” car.

This year’s GB Rally kicks off in Cardiff Bay this evening at 18:20GMT and runs over four days.

Best ten shakedown times:

Car No.	Team	Driver	Nat.	Vehicle	Time
2	Citroën Total WRT	S. Ogier	FRA	Citroën C4 WRC	1:13.7
2	Citroën Total WRT	S. Ogier	FRA	Citroën C4 WRC	1:14.2
1	Citroën Total WRT	S. Loeb	FRA	Citroën C4 WRC	1:14.3
1	Citroën Total WRT	S. Loeb	FRA	Citroën C4 WRC	1:15.0
7	Citroën Junior Team	D. Sordo	ESP	Citroën C4 WRC	1:15.0
2	Citroën Total WRT	S. Ogier	FRA	Citroën C4 WRC	1:15.5
11	Petter Solberg World Rally Team	P. Solberg	NOR	Citroën C4 WRC	1:15.7
11	Petter Solberg World Rally Team	P. Solberg	NOR	Citroën C4 WRC	1:16.0
3	BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team	M. Hiroven	FIN	Ford Focus RS WRC	1:16.2
5	Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team	M. Wilson	GB	Ford Focus RS WRC	1:16.3

Full time results for last night’s shake-down are available at the Wales Rally GB site.