CAN THE FRENCH EVER BE BEATEN IN GERMANY?
The biggest question this weekend (19-22 August 2010) for the World Rally Championship is can the French ever be beaten in Germany and, in particular, one certain Frenchman.
The Rally of Germany joined the WRC in 2002 and, for the past eight years, only one person has climbed to top step of the podium – Citroën’s Sébastien Loeb. Indeed, since the Spanish round in 2005 no other driver and no other car brand has won any tarmac round of the World Rally Championship.
With Loeb and his trusty Citroën C4 WRC on the podium in every round this season, including four wins, it is no surprise that that Loeb and Citroën arrive in Germany at the head of their respective championships and Loeb’s views on this event are positive.
“I’ve always felt good in this rally and things have always gone well for me here. My aim in Germany is obviously an eighth victory,” says Loeb who will be racing only a few dozen kilometres away from his native Alsace. “But three other good drivers also have C4 WRCs, the best car of the moment. That means that I’m going to have to pull out all the stops to stay in front of them. It’s an interestingchallenge as the three legs are all different. The stages among the Mosel vines have nothing in common with those in the Baumholder military camp. There are some very fast sections, some extremely difficult passages, now narrow then wide asphalt roads. And the pavement on all of them varies as well. There is hardly one metre the same as the one before. It’s an absolute challenge. As is often the case, the weather can play a very important role in the outcome of the event, so it looks like it‘s going to be an exciting and unpredictable race.”
Rally stages are renowned for the risk of trees and rocks close to the roads, but on Rally Germany the hazards take on a whole new level of risk. The Baumholder Military Area is – as one of the stage names, Panzer Plattesuggest – a Cold War relic used for tank training and it is littered with blocks designed for stopping 50 tonne tanks, so they can make light work of a little rally car. One stage called Hinkelstein has “special” memories for Loeb.
"Ah yes, you mean those big boulders one should keep away from? So far, I had only one ‘date’ with a Hinkelstein rock, during a pre-event test for the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. It may not have been my worst accident but definitely the toughest on my neck. My co-driver Daniel Elena had to do the Rally Finland, which came next, with a fractured rib. I’m always very careful around those things,” says Loeb.
So is Loeb not as fond of the Panzer Platte as he says?
“Arena Panzer Platte is something very special and contributes a lot to this rally’s charm,” says Loeb “Baumholder is so different, so unlike any other asphalt tracks we know. There are rough, clean, wide and fast sections with gravel, mud and dust thrown in for an extreme setting. Nowhere is it harder for a driver to find the right mix. Everybody can floor the pedal but if you want to win Germany you have to be successful in this particular special stage.”
After competing in Rally Finland in the Citroën Junior Team, Dani Sordo is back in the cockpit of the number two C4 WRC. The Spaniard will be backed up by co driver Diego Vallejo, who has replaced Marc Marti.
“It isn’t asudden decision, but I reached the conclusion that there were some things I had to change to progress,”explains Dani. “Marc has given me a lot over the past six seasons and we parted on friendly terms. Diegoand I have known each other for a long time; we’re on the same wave length and I think we’re going towork together in real harmony. It will be his first outing in Rally Germany but I don’t think it’s one of themost difficult events for a co-driver.”
Dani was second in this event in 2006 and 2008 and intends to doat least as well this year.
“As in Bulgaria, I’ll try and score the maximum number of points for Citroën. Itwon’t be easy and in particular, I will have to watch out in the 47-km stage in the military camp. It’s veryhard on tyres and you have to adopt the right rhythm to avoid punctures.”
Three questions to Olivier Quesnel
Let’s look back on Rally Finland. With Sébastien Ogier in second place and Sébastien Loeb justbehind, several people expected you to use team order to reverse the positions
“Like in Portugal we opted for the sporting aspect by not interfering in the classification in an artificialmanner. You had to have an overview of the situation. Mikko Hirvonen had retired and Petter Solbergwas behind our two drivers. Third place for Sébastien Loeb was a very good result in the context of thedrivers’ championship. By leaving Sébastien Ogier in second place we were able to keep up the pressureon Jari-Matti Latvala. At the same time, this result meant that Ogier didn’t lose too many points inrelation to Latvala, his direct rival in the championship. I’d like to add that we talked the situationthrough with our two drivers and Sébastien Loeb told us that he didn’t want to finish second in suchconditions.”
Does that mean you’ll allow your drivers to fight it out between themselves till the end of theseason?
“Citroën Racing’s aim is to keep the World Rally Championship Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ titles. Atpresent, we’re on target to achieve this as Sébastien Loeb and Citroën lead both championships. As inFinland, we’ll have to analyse each situation as it arises.”
Dani Sordo will have Diego Vallejo as co-driver in this rally. Is it the start of a new season for him?
“I certainly hope so! With the exception of Rally Bulgaria, Dani has experienced a fairly difficult season sofar. It became obvious that a change was necessary as the rallies unfolded. It was up to him to take thedecision. He’s made his choice calmly after examining several possibilities. We’d like to welcome DiegoVallejo, and we hope he’ll help Dani to finish the season on a high note. I’m still convinced that his firstvictory in the world championship isn’t too far off.”
Information
ADAC Rally Germany (round 9/13) (19 – 22 August)
Surface: Asphalt - Where: Trier
Practical info: The service park is in Trier Messepark. The HQ and Media Centre are in the Park Plaza
Hotel in Trier. There is no time difference between Germany and France. On the first day of the rally
Friday 20th August, the sun will rise at 6h30 and set at 20h41. In August, the average temperature is
between 12°C in the morning and 29°C in the afternoon. The euro is the local currency.
Technical: The two Citroën C4 WRCs will have the engines used in Finland which will also be used in
Japan. The transmissions and spare parts are shared with Rally Bulgaria (already run).
Tyres: Each crew can use 54 Pirelli P-Zero tyres maximum in this rally (shakedown included). Two typesare available: soft (32 tyres max) and hard (46 tyres max).
Reconnaissance: It is scheduled for Tuesday 17th August from 9h00 to 19h30 and on Wednesday 18thAugust from 8h00 to16h30 with two passages maximum in each stage.
Shakedown: Thursday 19th August between 8h00 and 12h00 to the west of Trier near the villages ofMesenich and Grewenich as in 2008 on a 5,80-km stage whose start is 16,72 km from the service park.
Press conference: Thursday 19th August at 13h30 in the Media Centre.
Start: Thursday19th August from Porta Nigra at 20h00.
Route: 1194,63 km long including 407,31 timed km. 19 stages (10 different).
Timing: Day 1 Friday 20th August – 385,82 km including 134,04 timed km (6 SS, 3 different).–SS1:
‘Ruwertal / Fell’ (24,01 km) – SS2: ‘Grafschaft Veldenz’ (23,09 km) – SS3: ‘Moselland’ (19,92 km) –
Service A (13h09 / 30 min) – SS4: ‘Ruwertal / Fell’ (24,01 km) – SS5: ‘Grafschaft Veldenz’ (23,09
km) – SS6: ‘Moselland’ (19,92 km) – Service B (17h38 / 45 min) – Last car in parc fermé at 21h45.
Day 2 – Saturday 21st August: 576,92 km including 187,58 timed km (8 SS, 4 different). Start: 6h30
– Service C (6h40 / 15 min) – SS7: ‘Hermeskeil / Gusenburg’ (11,34 km) – SS8: ‘St. Wendeler Land’
(16,95 km) – SS9: ‘Freisen / Westrich’ (17,50 km) – Remote Service ‘Birkenfeld’ (9h52 / 15 in) –
SS10: ‘Arena Panzerplatte’ (48,00 km) – Service D (13h20 / 30 min) – SS11: ‘Hermeskeil /
Gusenburg’ (11,34 km) – SS12 : ‘St. Wendeler Land’ (16,95 km) – SS13 : ‘Freisen / Westrich’ (17,50
km) – Remote Service ‘Birkenfeld’ (16h47 / 15 min) – SS14: ‘Arena Panzerplatte’ (48,00 km) – ServiceD (19h45 / 45 min) – Last car in parc fermé at 23h45.
Day 3 – Sunday 22nd August: 231,89 km including 85,69 times km (5 SS, 3 different). Start: 6h15 –
Service F (6h25 / 15 min) – SS15: ‘Dhrontal’ (22,58 km) – SS8: ‘Moselwein’ (18,08 km) – Service G
(9h18 / 30 min) – SS17: ‘Dhrontal’ (22,58 km) – SS18: ‘Moselwein’ (18,08 km) – SS19: ‘SSS Circus
Maximus Trier’ (4,37 km) – Service H (13h26 / 10 min) – Finish at 13h36.
Podium: 22nd August from 15:45
Final press conference: Sunday 22nd August in the Media Centre at 14:30.
Crews before this rally:
Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena: First WRC Rally Spain 98 (Saxo Kit-Car / Rtd.) – WRC Rallies: 132 –
Rally wins : 58 – Titles: 6 (2004 to 2009)
Dani Sordo: First WRC Rally: Spain 03 (Lancer Evolution / 18th) – WRC Rallies: 79 – Junior Title :
2005 (C2 S1600).
Diego Vallejo: First WRC Rally: Spain 96 (Citroën ZX / 25e) – WRC Rallies: 19.
Crews at the start of Rally Germany:
Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena: 8th participation: 2002 (Xsara WRC / 1st) - 2003 (Xsara WRC / 1st)
- 2004 (Xsara WRC / 1st) - 2005 (Xsara WRC / 1st) – 2006 (Xsara WRC / 1st) – 2007 (C4 WRC /
1st) – 2008 (C4 WRC / 1st).
Dani Sordo: 6th participation: 2004 (Mitsubishi Lancer / 19th) – 2005 (C2 S1600 / 13th) – 2006
(Xsara WRC / 2nd) – 2007 (C4 WRC /Rtd.) – 2008 (C4 WRC / 2nd).
Diego Vallejo: 1st participation.
For further information:
Citroën Australia Media Web Site:
Miles Williams
/ Tel: (02) 9701 8020General Manager / Fax: (02) 9701 3555
Citroën Australia / Mob: 0419 800 520
E-Mail:
Edward Rowe
/ Tel: (02) 9701 8015Public Relations Manager / Fax: (02) 9701 3555
Citroën Australia / Mob: 0407 913 244
E-Mail:
Citroen Australia
Street Address: Heritage Building, Campus Business Park, 350 Parramatta Road, Homebush NSW 2140 Australia. Postal Address: Ateco Automotive Pty Ltd,Locked Bag 260, Silverwater, NSW 1811, Australia
Telephone: 02 9701 8000; Direct Telephone 02 9701 8015 Fax: 02 9701 3555. Mobile +61 0407 913 244
A.B.N. 34 000 486 706
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EJR/ejr/1007
8/15/2010