Kankkunen & Kimi Räikkönen on SS1 WRC Rally Finland 2010

Source: amjayes

Rally Bulgaria 2010: SS1 - Loeb leads after the opening stage in Bulgaria

SS1 Batak Lake 1

Defending World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb moved into an early lead of Rally Bulgaria this morning after setting the fastest time on the opening stage.

The Citroen C4 WRC driver declared himself happy with his car and his driving after completing the 31.77km Batak Lake SS1 - the longest stage of the rally - in a time of 17m 33.8s. Loeb's team-mate Dani Sordo was second fastest, in a time 8.6sec slower, while Sebastien Ogier was third fastest, 9.1sec off Loeb's pace.

Petter Solberg and Kimi Raikkonen were fourth and fifth fastest - completing an all Citroen C4 top five.

Ford team leader Mikko Hirvonen holds sixth, 18 seconds off Loeb's lead. "I can't be too proud of that, hopefully we can improve on the next one," said Hirvonen.

Weather conditions were overcast but dry with just a few damp patches remaining after light overnight rain. The majority of crews elected to run Pirelli's hard compound tyres.

Source: WRC

WRC Onboards 2010: Portugal: Räikkönen SS01 Requested by iEatRadios

Source: WRC

SS1 Estadio Algarve 1: Hirvonen takes the early lead in Portugal

Mikko Hirvonen moved into an early lead of the 2010 Vodafone Rally de Portugal after setting the fastest time on Thursday evening’s Algarve Stadium Superspecial.

The Ford Focus RS WRC driver completed the 2km head-to-head test in 2min 9.3sec, winning his heat with Sebastien Loeb and completing the stage one-tenth of a second quicker than Munchi’s team driver Federico Villagra who was his closest rival.

Sweeping hairpin bends, tight and tricky corners and a table-top jump made the test a challenge for the 62 starters, as well as dazzling viewing for both the fans and TV viewers across the country who watched the action live on television.

Thousands crammed into the football stadium to watch the night time stage, and most were on their feet as Hirvonen crossed the line, a Portuguese flag trailing from his car.

"It’s a great way to start the rally!" said Hirvonen. "Okay, it’s only a short stage but it’s always really nice to win - and a big pleasure to beat Sebastien! Tomorrow is when the real action starts, though.”

The first section of the rally continues on Friday when drivers leave Faro from 0810hrs to tackle six gravel stages in the hills north of the town.

Stage Times:

Source: WRC

Rally of Turkey 2010: SS1 Darlik 1

Times:

1.P. SOLBERG 9:30.4
2.J. LATVALA 9:30.5 +0.1
3.S. LOEB 9:30.9 +0.4
4.D. SORDO 9:31.1 +0.2
5.M. HIRVONEN 9:31.9 +0.8
6.S. OGIER 9:32.6 +0.7
7.F. VILLAGRA 9:43.1+10.5
8.M. WILSON 9:46.5 +3.4
9.K. RAIKKONEN 9:47.5 +1.0
10.O. TANAK 10:09.1 +21.6

Source: WRC

Jordan Rally 2010: SS1

Times:

J. LATVALA - 12:12.1
P. SOLBERG - 12:12.5
D. SORDO - 12:13.1
S.OGIER - 12:13.5
H. SOLBERG - 12:15.7
S. LOEB - 12:17.7
M. WILSON - 12:26.0
M. HIRVONEN - 12:28.2
F. VILLAGRA - 12:28.7
P. ANDERSSON - 12:30.0
K. RAIKKONEN - 12:38.8

Source: WRC

Kimi Räikkönen SS1 and SS2 in Mexico Rally 2010

Source: YouTube

Rally Mexico Update: Times from SS1

Click to enlarge

Source: WRC

Swedish Rally 2010 SS1

Source: @lillebobben

SS1: Sordo leads after Thursday night's Super Special

Citroen Total Team driver Dani Sordo is Thursday's overnight leader of Rally Sweden after setting the fastest time through the rally opening Super Special Stage in his C4 World Rally Car.

Thousands of spectators braved sub-zero temperatures to watch the first stage of the 2010 World Rally Championship - a floodlit, head-to-head blast around a 1.9km ice circuit in the rally's host city of Karlstad.

After recording a time of 1min 34.4sec around the figure-of-eight track Sordo was delighted with his performance. "We had a really good pre-event test, as well as a good time on the arctic rally a fortnight ago and that's helped me get a good feeling in the car," he said. "I know I can still go faster if I need to, but so far so good."

Citroen Junior team driver Sebastien Ogier, also in a C4 WRC, was nearest to Sordo's time, but a full two seconds slower. "I enjoyed the stage and I like to drive in these ice conditions," he said.

A deliberately careful start from Ford team leader Mikko Hirvonen netted him the third fastest time, while similar approaches put defending world champion Sebastien Loeb fourth and Marcus Gronholm fifth.

Super Special winner in 2008 Petter Solberg, however, paid the price for a more aggressive approach. The Norwegian nudged a snow bank and later spun his C4 WRC, reaching the finish control 18.3sec slower than Sordo and without a front bumper. "I got some very, very bad oversteer, but it was my fault - I tried too hard. That's just how it is," he explained.

On his first WRC stage with the Citroen Junior Team, Kimi Raikkonen set the ninth fastest time. "That was okay," he said. "A little bit cautious but I took it easy. It's okay, all you can do on these stages is lose it."

After this evening's prelude, the proper stage action begins on Friday morning at 0818hrs, when crews tackle the first of six stages in the countryside north of Karlstad, before a return to Karlstad for a repeat of the Super Special.

[EDIT] Link to full results of SS1 here

Sources: WRC.com, Motorsport