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Citroen Junior Team driver Evgeny Novikov set the fastest time on the shakedown of the Acropolis Rally in Greece.

In warm and sunny conditions on the 3.10km route, the young Russian took a surprise fastest run ahead of five-times world champion Sebastien Loeb and Federico Villagra.

"The stage was good but as the cars were passing it became quite rough," Novikov said.

Loeb, like Novikov in a Citroen C4, completed three runs before declaring himself satisfied with the settings: "The stage was okay and so was the car."

The other major surprise on the shakedown list was the fastest Ford Focus not bearing the works team's colours, but rather those of the Munchi's Ford outfit.

After retiring in Sardinia, its driver Villagra said is eager to take on the Greek routes.

"I am satisfied with the car," the Argentine said. "I tried some adjustments to the differential set-up."

Mikko Hirvonen came next at the wheel of his factory Ford, completing the dusty test runs in a good mood but with a few further tweaks planned before beginning the rally itself tomorrow.

"The SS was fine and so was our feeling from the car. I will make some adjustments, though," he said.

Stobart Ford driver Matthew Wilson set the fifth-best time and was followed by Rally Sardinia winner Jari-Matti Latvala. However, after four passages across the shakedown stage, Latvala was not entirely satisfied.

"In the first passage the SS seemed quite soft in some places and rocky in others," the Ford team driver explained. "I tried using harder springs and I adjusted the set-up of the car, but I was not so happy. I think I prefer the previous one."

Dani Sordo claimed the seventh-best time for the Citroen team, less than a second faster than Petter Solberg's privateer Citroen machine. Solberg's car suffered in the heat of Sardinia and with conditions even hotter in Greece, modifications to the Xsara WRC became necessary.

"The car seems better in general," said the Norwegian. "We also changed the cooling system. We will know for sure tomorrow."

Setting the ninth-quickest result, Citroen Junior Team driver Sebastien Ogier found the stage slippery as he worked on different suspension settings, but nonetheless completed the shakedown with confidence. "Generally I am satisfied," he said.

Rounding out the top 10 was Henning Solberg, who was not in a position to take full advantage of the shakedown stage.

"In the first passage we were writing the stage because we didn't have notes due to a problem with the recce car yesterday," the Stobart Ford driver explained.

Rally-Live.com / Eurosport