Neuville quickest in WRC CER shakedown

Hyundai driver Thierry Neuville topped the timesheets in the 3.62-kilometre-long shakedown test of the Central European Rally.

The Belgian was 1.4s faster quicker than anybody else in shakedown, with Kalle Rovanperä in P2. Ott Tänak made it three different cars in the top 3, a tenths shy of Rovanperä’s time.

This week’s Central European Rally is a new concept in the WRC with stages in three countries (Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic). The service park is situated in Passau (Germany). The drivers head to Prague tomorrow for the ceremonial start and two (different) super special stages on the way back to service in Passau.

On Friday, all stages are run in the Czech Republic. On Saturday and Sunday, the stages are run in both Austria and Germany.

Today’s shakedown was interrupted after four cars due to a road traffic incident nearby, requiring the emergency service vehicles to attend the matter.

Shakedown resumed after just over half an hour. The shakedown times were not bettered as the sun set. Elfyn Evans completed shakedown in P4, ahead of Esapekka Lappi and Sébastien Ogier.

Takamoto Katsuta set the 7th fastest time, followed by Teemu Suninen, Pierre-Louis Loubet and Grégoire Munster who’s in the Puma Rally1 for this weekend also after his Rally1 debut in Chile.

Yohan Rossel set the pace in WRC2, 0.8s faster than Adrien Fourmaux and a further 0.4s faster than leading Toksport-Skoda driver Gus Greensmith.

Find everything you need to know (Itinerary, Maps, Rally Guides, Entry list) about the WRC Central European Rally here.

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Photo: Hyundai Motorsport