WRC: Latvala tops shakedown, Neuville rolls

Jari-Matti Latvala continued his fine run of World Rally Championship form by topping shakedown for Rally Germany, while rival Thierry Neuville faces a fight to make the start after rolling his Hyundai i20 WRC.

Shakedown was halted after Neuville crashed heavily on his third run at the stage. The car is believed to have rolled as many as six times in the accident after the Belgian lost control of the car on a left-hander.

FIA scrutineers and Hyundai Motorsport will now inspect the damage to the car before deciding whether last year's runner-up can take the start in the center of Trier tonight.

Latvala headed a Volkswagen 1-2-3, with the Rally Finland winner half a second up on championship leader Sebastien Ogier. Andreas Mikkelsen was a further six tenths down in third.

Northern Irishman Kris Meeke was the fastest non-Polo driver in his Citroen DS3 WRC, with Dani Sordo offering Hyundai some cheer from a tough morning with fifth fastest time.

M-Sport man Mikko Hirvonen was sixth in his Fiesta RS WRC, one place up on Robert Kubica who suffered minor handbrake issues this morning.