Latvala fastest, Loeb sixth in qualifying
Finland's Jari-Matti Latvala clocked the fastest time in his Ford during the inaugural qualifying stage ahead of the Rally of Sweden on Thursday.
Latvala, winner in Sweden in 2008, clocked 1min 53.516sec to finish ahead of compatriot Mikko Hirvonen, Citroen's latest recruit and winner of the last two editions of this event raced on snow and ice.
The result means that Latvala can choose where he can start the first full day of racing at Rally Sweden on Friday, as Ford bid to win their sixth consecutive title here.
"I had no problem in the stage at all," he said.
"Maybe on one corner I was a little bit slower after I saw some rocks and went around them, but otherwise it was the perfect time for me."
Eight-time world champion Sebastien Loeb admitted he found the conditions "tricky" as he negotiated the icy track but was satisfied with his time on the 3.99km ice-coated test.
"I didn't want to be first! I prefer to know where the others are," admitted the 37-year-old French Citroen driver who is looking for his second win in as many races after his victory in the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally.
"The aim wasn't to be last either! I didn't take big risks. Rather than to make one (error) it's better to have a reasonable time, to be in the top five or six.
"The fastest driver (Jari-Matti Latvala) won't choose to start first, so whether you are 10th, 12th or 14th doesn't make a big difference."
Loeb has only won once in Sweden, in 2004 the year of his first world title success.
"It's not a surface on which I excel, but I love competing here," he said.
"It's actually one of the season’s most enjoyable rallies. If you look at my record here in previous rallies, it has often been the conditions that have made things more difficult for me.
"When the stages have roads covered with a good layer of sheer ice, I think I’m just as fast as my rivals."
QUALIFYING TIMES
1. Jari-Matti Latvala-Miikka Anttila (FIN/Ford Fiesta RS) 1min 53.516sec
2. Mikko Hirvonen-Jarmo Lehtinen (FIN/Citroen DS3) at 0.568sec
3. Ott Tanak-Kuldar Sikk (EST/Ford Fiesta RS) 0.573
4. Evgeny Novikov-Denis Giraudet (RUS-FRA/Ford Fiesta RS) 0.615
5. Petter Solberg-Chris Patterson (NOR-GBR/Ford Fiesta RS) 0.868
6. Sébastien Loeb-Daniel Elena (FRA-MON/Citroen DS3) 1.211
7. Mads Ostberg-Jonas Andersson (NOR-SWE/Ford Fiesta RS) 1.361
Selected:
11. Dani Sordo-Carlos Del Barrio (ESP/Mini) 3.208
14. Sebastien Ogier-Julien Ingrassia (FRA/Skoda Fabia 2000) 4.331
16. Nasser Al-Attiyah-Giovanni Bernacchini (QAT/ITA/Citroen DS3) 6.208
