Stobart Ford's Gigi Galli was quickest in the shakedown for the Rally d'Italia Sardegna, the sixth round in the 2008 FIA World Rally Championship.

Galli completed the 3.75 kilometre test stage near Monte Pinu - 10 kilometres west of the service park, in 3 minutes 19 seconds, setting his best time on his fourth and final pass.

Citroen's Sebastien Loeb was best of the rest, eight tenths slower in his C4 WRC, while Dani Sordo and Jari Matti Latvala tied for the third best time, both a further second back.

Subaru's Petter Solberg meanwhile rounded out the top five, with Jordan Rally winner and current championship leader, Mikko Hirvonen sixth - although he did just one run through the test.

Chris Atkinson and Henning Solberg were next up, seventh and eighth respectively, while Suzuki's Toni Gardemeister and Britain's Matthew Wilson completed the top ten.

The Rally d'Italia Sardegna now gets underway on Friday, with 131.56 competitive kilometres on the bill. SS1, the 16.43 kilometre-run through Monte Corvos 1 starts at 10.23 hours local time.

Leading shakedown times:

1 Gigi Galli - Ford Focus - 3:19.0

2. Sebastien Loeb - Citroen C4 - 3:19.8

3. Daniel Sordo - Citroen C4 - 3:21.8

= Jari-Matti Latvala - Ford Focus - 3:21.8

5. Petter Solberg - Subaru Impreza - 3:22.9

6. Mikko Hirvonen - Ford Focus - 3:25.5

7. Chris Atkinson - Subaru Impreza - 3:26.3

8. Henning Solberg - Ford Focus - 3:26.4

9. Toni Gardemeister - Suzuki WRT SX4 - 3:27.4

10. Matthew Wilson - Ford Focus - 3:28.5

11. Urmo Aava - Citroen C4 - 3:28.8

12. Mads Ostberg - Subaru Impreza - 3:29.3

13. Khalid Al-Qassimi - Ford Focus - 3:29.8

14. Andreas Mikkelsen Ramsport - Ford Focus - 3:30.3

15. Conrad Rautenbach PH Sport - Citroen C4 - 3:30.5

16. P-G Andersson - Suzuki WRT SX4 - 3:32.5

17. Federico Villagra Munchi's - Ford Focus - 3:33.4

Crash.net / Eurosport