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From WRC.com

Jari-Matti Latvala was fastest in this afternoon's shakedown for ADAC Rallye Deutschland as three different cars filled the top three positions.

The Finn's Volkswagen Polo R was fastest by 0.7sec over the 4.55km Konz test, south of Trier. Latvala set his winning time on the last of four runs over the asphalt roads in the vineyards on the banks of the Mosel River.

With qualifying not part of asphalt events, the shakedown was the last chance for drivers to test ahead of tomorrow evening's opening two stages of the season's first pure sealed surface encounter.

“The car feels good but, of course, this rally is tough. It's probably the most difficult of the dry asphalt events. I'm not putting too much pressure on myself. I just want to go out, relax and see how it's going to be,” Latvala told wrc.com.

Second was Dani Sordo in a Citroen DS3, the Spaniard happy to be on his favoured asphalt surface after a tough time on the gravel roads in Finland earlier this month. 

“It was a good start, yes, but for me it was more important that my times were good from the start, because as the session goes on they usually get better and better anyway,” said Sordo.

Thierry Neuville was third fastest in his Ford Fiesta RS, the Belgian just one tenth slower than Sordo through the stage. 

World Championship leader Sebastien Ogier overshot a junction on his final run and had to settle for the fourth fastest time, with Evgeny Novikov rounding off the top five. 

The rally kicks off tonight.

Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC (Photo: VW)

Shakedown results - Rallye Deutschland (WRC)

1. Jari-Matti Latvala 2min 23.5sec 
2. Dani Sordo 2min 24.2sec

3. Thierry Neuville 2min 24.3sec
4. Sébastien Ogier 2min 24.9sec

5. Evgeny Novikov 2min 25.1sec

6. Mikko Hirvonen 2min 25.5sec

7. Mads Ostberg 2min 25.7sec

8. P-G Andersson 2min 26.3sec

9. Nasser Al-Attiyah: 2min 27.2sec

10. Michal Kosciuszko 2min 29.2sec. 

11. Martin Prokop 2min 30.0sec
12. Khalid Al Qassimi 2min 31.4sec

From GMM

Sergey Sirotkin's preparation for his Formula 1 race debut next year could continue at the controls of the Ferrari driver simulator.

This week, the Russian teenager travelled to Switzerland for his first look at Sauber's Hinwil factory, where he had a seat fitting in the 2013 car ahead of demonstration run at Sochi next month.

Team boss Monisha Kaltenborn said on Wednesday that "the most important thing" for Sirotkin ahead of his scheduled 2014 debut will be doing "plenty of kilometres" before Melbourne next year.

"Despite the test ban, there are certain ways we can do that," she told Speed Week.

"Using a current car is prohibited, but we can use an older car," said Kaltenborn.  "In the coming weeks we will determine exactly when and where he can start."

Sergey Siroktin (Photo: Renault Sport)

Sauber, struggling financially when the new Russian rescue deal was announced recently, is keen to kick off Sirotkin's programme as soon as possible, as at present the 17-year-old does not have a F1 super license.

Kaltenborn said the team's links to engine supplier Ferrari could play a role in helping Sirotkin to prepare.

"There are some options in terms of the simulator, including Ferrari," she admitted.  "We will see what this (programme) will look like in the coming weeks."

From Infiniti

Infiniti is offering performance-driven engineering graduates an exclusive opportunity to work in Formula 1 via a new global talent search initiative.

The ‘Infiniti Performance Engineering Academy' will see two winning candidates complete a 12-month assignment with three-time World Championship-winning F1 team Infiniti Red Bull Racing, based in Milton Keynes, UK.

The two graduates will work alongside Infiniti engineers already based at the F1 team's factory. In addition, they will also spend time at Infiniti's nearby technical center in Cranfield, UK, where they will intensify their knowledge of future road car technologies.

The new program is the latest development in the Infiniti Red Bull Racing partnership, generating mutual benefits on the track and the road.

A view inside the Red Bull Racing's factory in Milton Keynes. (Photo Red Bull)

Recruitment will open later this year. National selections across several global regions will begin in May 2014, putting applicants through a comprehensive selection process to assess their performance potential and innovative thinking.

Finalists will present their ideas to a panel of senior technical figures from Infiniti and Infiniti Red Bull Racing in July 2014 with the two winners announced at the British Grand Prix. The placements will begin in September 2014.

This once-in-a-lifetime scholarship includes a salary, accommodation, and the use of a car.

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