Intro:

Jari-Matti Latvala was fastest in practise for the Rally of Portugal.

The Finn is out to reclaim the WRC title from his team-mate France's Sebastien Ogier.

Script:

After days of heavy rain, sunshine took over in the Algarve as the World Rally Championship returned to European shores.

Finland's Jari-Matti Latvala posted the fastest time through the opening five kilometre shakedown test in the Rally of Portugal as he set about trying to reclaim the title from Volkwagon team-mate Sebastien Ogier.

Next quickest, Henning Solberg sprung something of a surprise.

The Norwegian was just under a second slower than Latvala in his Ford Fiesta RS.

Few expected that, not least Ogier.

He was only third fastest through the stage, but despite the lacklustre start, remains the favourite and is expected to successfully defend the crown he won here when the rally proper gets underway on Friday.

Hyundai arrived in Portugal boosted by their maiden podium finish in Mexico in the last rally.

Spaniard Dani Sordo might generally be more at home on tarmac, but he still managed to record the fourth fastest time on the dusty roads of the Algarve for the WRC newcomers.

Latvala will be hoping that his early pace is a sign of good things to come.