Loeb fastest in Shakedown

Sebastien Loeb is starting to show signs once again of his domination of the World Rally championship. The Frenchman was fastest at the pre-event shakedown for the Rally of Turkey. The world Champion sent out an marker ahead of the race with a time of 2 minutes 30.8 seconds.

Sebastien Loeb of France on his Citroen C4 WRC waves to fans during  the start of the FIA World Rally Championship Turkey Rally in  Istanbul April 15, 2010.REUTERS/Osman Orsal (TURKEY - Tags: SPORT  MOTOR RACING)

After only three rallies the defending world champion Sebastien Loeb is 25 points ahead in the drivers' championship, and the Citroen man continues to show that he's in class of his own. The Frenchman went out first and he drove the stage four times, setting the best time - 2 minutes 30.8sec - on his final pass.

Ford's Mikko Hirvonen rounded off the top three times - coming home fractionally slower in 2 minutes 31.7 seconds run on his fourth attempt.

Henning Solberg also had an encouraging day in his Ford, setting a time of 2 minutes 32.2 seconds to end fourth fastest.