04/10/2007
Loeb, Pons, Duval, Grönholm and Sordo show their clout at the Shakedown

Xevi Pons (Subaru) and Oleguer Presas

This morning, the TV-3031 road, from Tivissa to La Serra d'Almos, was the stage for the shakedown, or test stage where drivers put the finishing touches to the cars for the 43 RallyRACC Catalunya-COSTA DAURADA, Rally de España. The 12th round of the World Championship will start tomorrow in the Costa Daurada. This was especially useful because it was raced on the same stretch -although backwards- as one of the special stages of the race (SS 10 and 14, La Serra d'Almos).

Most drivers took advantage of their runs to fine tune the tyre settings, although many explained that the early morning humidity made the asphalt rather slippery. Although the times are purely indicative and don't count for the classification, the frontrunners strove to adjust to their cars and made a point by setting the fastest times.

The winner of the last RallyRACC round and reigning World Champion, Sébastien Loeb (Citroën C4 WRC), clocked the fastest time (2'32"7) in his third run. He was followed by local driver Xevi Pons (Subaru/2'34"1), Belgian François Duval (Citroën/2'34"5), current championship leader Marcus Grönholm (Ford/2'34"7), and Dani Sordo (Citroën/2'34"9), also from Spain. In one of the parallel activities typical of the shakedown, Xevi Pons took football player from F.C. Barcelona Oleguer Presas as co-driver. It was funny to see that his best run was precisely with him, when the tarmac was completely dry.

 "I badly need to score some points, and the RallyRACC is essential for me. I'm aware that Marcus Grönholm is very fast here and we need to push hard to win him", said Sébastien Loeb, who will start off as the favourite for a race that he won on the two previous years. In the second to last round of the Junior series, Finn Kalle Pinomäki (Renault/2'48"4) was the fastest. Manfred Stohl (Citroën) and Atkinson (Subaru), accumulated the highest number of runs, five.

WRC drivers at the Dragon Khan. Drivers will pay tribute to Colin McRae

Today, at 4pm, the drivers participating at the RallyRACC 2007 will have the opportunity to experience the excitement of the Dragon Kahn, the most popular attraction of Port Aventura theme park. This is a spectacular coaster that looks like a dragon and combines speed (up to 110 km/hr) with as much as 8 loops or inversions, and banked turns. Users need little less than one minute to cover the 1.285 m of the attraction. All the official WRC teams have confirmed their attendance.

Later on, at 7.30 pm, the drivers entered for the Spanish round of the World Rally Championship will attend the tribute that the RallyRACC will pay to the late Colin McRae. The Scottish driver, who participated in nine editions of the Rally de España, has now a testimonial banner in the rally headquarters. Weather permitting, this moving gathering will be held at the Podium area, in the Waterfront of Salou, a few minutes before the official inauguration of the rally.