Factory Citroen driver Kris Meeke has topped the times following the shakedown for the Coates Hire Rally Australia at Coffs Harbour.

Meeke clocked 2:52.9s over the 4.98km stage north of the New South Wales coastal city.

The Northern Irishman overshadowed his Citroen team-mate Mads Ostberg with Hyundai Shell World Rally Team leader Thierry Neuville posting the third quickest time in 2:53.7s.

Volkswagen’s Jari-Matti Latvala clocked 2:54.3 with his third run, reporting he was happy with the set-up of the Polo R.

Reigning Rally Australia and WRC champion Sebastien Ogier was fifth fastest ahead of M-Sport’s Mikko Hirvonen.

Kiwi Hayden Paddon was seventh fastest, running in the satellite factory team i20.

VW’s Andreas Mikkelesen was eighth ahead of Robert Kubica who improved by nearly four seconds on his fourth run.

M-Sport rookie Elfyn Evans was 10th fastest in the Ford Fiesta.

Australia’s Chris Atkinson set his best time, 2:58.3s, on his fourth run in the #8 Hyundai Shell World Rally Team i20.

Atkinson is having only his second WRC start of the season after finishing seventh at Rally Mexico earlier this year.