French veteran Sebastien Loeb

posted the fastest time in his Citroen DS3 for Wednesday’s special qualifying

stage for the Rally of Finland.

Standings’ leader and eight-time world champion Loeb, who won here last

season, elected afterwards to set off tenth in Thursday’s opening stage around

Lahti, north of Helsinki.

Loeb timed 2:17.470 as he outpaced by 0.555sec home favourite Jari-Matti

Latvala in his Ford Fiesta, who won here in 2010. He also was too quick for

2009 race winner Mikko Hirvonen in his Citroen DS3.

Norway’s Petter Solberg, the 2003 world champion, was fourth quickest in

his Ford Fiesta over the 4.62km course.

Australian Chris Atkinson was ninth.

Thursday sees the drivers tackle a 30.08km stage spread across three timed

specials which also includes a 2km evening super-special at a hippodrome just

outside Lahti.

Qualifying special results:

1. Sebastien Loeb (FRA/Citroen DS3) 2:17.470

2. Jari-Matti Latvala (FIN/Ford Fiesta RS) at 0.555

3. Mikko Hirvonen (FIN/Citroen DS3) 2:32.231 0.806

4. Petter Solberg (NOR/Ford Fiesta RS) 1.219

5. Evgeny Novikov (RUS/Ford Fiesta RS) 1.223

6. Mads Ostberg (NOR/Ford Fiesta RS) 2.032

7. Ott Tanak-Kuldar Sikk (EST/Ford Fiesta RS) 2.213

8. Thierry Neuville (BEL/Citroen DS3) 2.617

9. Chris Atkinson (AUS/BEL/Citroen DS3) 2.824

10. Jari Ketomaa (FIN/Ford Fiesta RS) 3.447