Xosé Estrada
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View the Post on the BlogSébastien Loeb remains in control of the Rallye Deutschland leaderboard and the Frenchman has now extended his advantage to nearly two minutes with just three stages remaining on Sunday. Jari-Matti Latvala holds second while Mikko Hirvonen has climbed from sixth to third overall.
Today was always anticipated to be the toughest day of the event, not only with the greatest stage kilometres but also for its two runs through the daunting 46.54 kilometre Panzerplatte stage at the Baumholder military training ground. The other two stages, also repeated, took the crews to the Saarland countryside and on to similar vineyards roads as those experienced yesterday. In total, the route covered six stages and 164.90 competitive kilometres.
Loeb started the day with a 20.4 second lead and caught the best of the weather in the opening stage when rain then began to fall. Those behind him experienced tougher conditions, allowing the Frenchman to extend his lead to 41.8 seconds in this stage alone. Throughout the day Loeb’s lead gradually increased as rivals hit problems and, after a faultless day, he now has a comfortable advantage with just 65.89 competitive kilometres to run tomorrow. Latvala has moved up the leaderboard into second following the retirement of team-mate Petter Solberg. Latvala has been pushing hard, but the Finn lost time going straight on at a junction, while team-mate Solberg hit a rock in the long Panzerplatte stage, destroying the right rear corner of the car. Hirvonen has climbed to third, after a disappointing day yesterday. The Finn spun in the first stage but has otherwise been gaining in confidence in his first full Tarmac event with the Citroën DS3 WRC.
Behind the leading trio, dramas unfolded late in the day. Ott Tanak had been enjoying a great afternoon, the Estonian setting two fastest stage times until he hit one of the infamous high kerbstones, known as hinkelsteins, in the Panzerplatte stage and took a wheel off the car. Mads Ostberg therefore climbed into fourth overnight, the Norwegian enjoying a better day today. Dani Sordo suffered a similar fate to Tanak, the Spaniard damaging the front end of the car on a hinkelstein, also forcing him into retirement in the final stage. Chris Atkinson moved into fifth as a consequence with Sébastien Ogier behind him in sixth. Peter Van Merksteijn had been running well in ninth, but rolled in the final stage, ending his hopes of a top 10 finish. Thierry Neuville was also forced into retirement after going off the road in SS9.
1. Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena
2. Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila
3. Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen
4. Mads Ostberg/Jonas Andersson
5. Chris Atkinson/Stephane Prévot
6. Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia
7. Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene
8. Nasser Al-Attiyah/G Bernacchini
9. Ott Tanak/Kuldar Sikk
10. Mathieu Arzeno/Renauld Jamoul
Citroën DS3 WRC
Ford Fiesta RS WRC
Citroën DS3 WRC
Ford Fiesta RS WRC
MINI Cooper Works WRC
Skoda Fabia S2000
Skoda Fabia S2000
Citroën DS3 WRC
Ford Fiesta RS WRC
Peugeot 207 S2000
2 hr 58 min 51.8sec
3 hr 00 min 34.7sec
3 hr 01 min 04.5sec
3 hr 01 min 59.6sec
3 hr 05 min 50.8sec
3 hr 07 min 02.4sec
3 hr 09 min 12.2sec
3 hr 09 min 43.8sec
3 hr 11 min 34.9sec
3 hr 11 min 55.3sec
