Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team fastest in Sweden Shakedown

• Mads Østberg sets the best time in Shakedown
• Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi: “The set-up is perfect and I don't feel any pressure”

Abu Dhabi/Hagfors/Karlstad, 6 February 2014 – With only a limited amount of snow, conditions proved to be especially tricky for the Rally Sweden shakedown. Mads Østberg nonetheless completed four runs in his Citroën DS3 WRC, setting the best time of the morning in the process.

Mads Østberg and Jonas Andersson have already shown that they are very quick in these sorts of conditions: “It's motivating to drive on these roads. Our result in Monte-Carlo has given us confidence and the feeling in the car is very good. We're aiming to finish on the podium but we want to win, the team wants to win, and I think a lot of our supporters want that too!”

Despite the many patches of frozen gravel and dirt on the roads, the Norwegian showed real pace: “It's perhaps a bit easier when there's some gravel. Above all else, it's a question of looking after the studs. In terms of driving, it's probably even more enjoyable. There is a lot of grip on the very hard ground. I like these conditions.”

Although he set the third fastest time in the shakedown, Kris Meeke also gained first-hand experience of the rally's tricky conditions: “The grip was very good on the racing line, but as soon as you step out of the lines you end up aquaplaning.  That's more or less what happened this morning. We went off on a right-hand corner. We slid wide onto the snow and off the road. The spectators helped us to get going again, but we hit a rock so the steering was slightly damaged. It was a timely reminder of the difficulties of this rally! Fortunately, we were able to keep driving.”

“In Sweden, the only way to learn is to rack up the miles,” continued Kris. “You need to have raced here for several years before you can be competitive. So my aim is to build up my experience here, the result is not important. Nobody manages to be quick at their first Rally Sweden.”

In the Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team's third Citroën DS3 WRC, Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi and Chris Patterson were able to confirm the set-up adopted during testing held last week. Everything went well,” reported the delighted Abu Dhabi driver. “The surface is different to last year. There is more gravel and fresh snow off the racing line. I had a good feeling in the car. The set-up is perfect and I don't feel any pressure so I was able to enjoy these first kilometres.”

Sweden top-10 Shakedown times