Intro:

Sebastien Ogier edged out Robert Kubica and Mads Ostberg to set the fastest time in shakedown at the Rally of Sweden on Thursday.

Script:

Sébastien Ogier edged out Robert Kubica and Mads Ostberg to set fastest time in shakedown at the Rally of Sweden this morning.

The Volkswagen Polo R pilot went quickest on his fourth and final pass through the 3.99km Rada stage to pip Kubica’s Ford Fiesta RS and Ostberg’s DS3 by two-tenths of a second.

Conditions improved with the passage of every car as rising temperatures melted the snow and ice, allowing the spiked tyres to bite into the gravel beneath and generate better grip.

Both Kubica and Ostberg had earlier set the pace, with both drivers completing seven runs through the stage.

Kris Meeke was fourth in Citroen’s other DS3, a further 0.1 seconds behind, with the Polo R duo of Andreas Mikkelsen and Jari-Matti Latvala completing the top six.