ADAC Rallye Deutschland 2008 Final Results: Loeb cruises to victory number 43, no team orders at Ford as Duval takes 3rd and Ogier takes JWRC honours

 

Sebastien Loeb was in seventh heaven as he has now scored seven straight Rally Germany wins, this one in a rather comfortable fashion. He completely dominated the event and was able to cruise on the last day to preserve his engine for the following asphalt rallies. This was Citroen's eighth consecutive Rally Deutschland win as they and Loeb continue to rewrite the history books.

Loeb victorious:

It’s been a great rally for me, and with Dani in second it’s looking good for Citroen in the manufacturers’ contest too.

I’m very happy to have won here. Germany is a special rally for me, and as we won’t get the chance to come here next year it was good to finish like this. We had a good feeling in the car all weekend, and had no real problems to contend with. Everything worked out well and now I am in the best position to start the rest of the season. Maybe New Zealand will be a little more difficult now I will be first on the road, because there is a lot of loose gravel - especially if it’s dry - but at he moment I’m happy to take the lead of the championship, and pleased with the job Dani and I did for Citroen.”

Seven up Seb

                         

Teammate Sordo took his eighth career second place to cement Citroen's lead in the manufacturers race. Ford didn't impose team orders and Duval was able to finish 3rd for Stobart recording four fastest times today. Hirvonen came home fourth but must have rued yesterday's puncture when he was in a comfortable 3rd o/a. Petter had a very good result in 5th, as was consistently quicker than 6th placed Atko throughout the event, one of the few times this season Solberg has managed this.

Henning had a fine result in 7th for Stobart ahead of Aava who must be relieved to finish following a brush with the undergrowth yesterday. Latvala was a very disappointed 9th, following his roll yesterday for the second event in succession, and is beginning to become a concern for his boss Malcolm Wilson. Andreas Mikkelsen (11th o/a) took the fastest time on the Super Special in Trier to bring the event to a close.

2008 Rally Germany action

Sebastien Ogier took the JWRC win, after Prokop's demise yesterday, to take a stranglehold in the championship. Burkart took second and Bettega was third. Shaun Gallagher took 4th to move back up to 2nd in the championship.

JWRC's in Germany

Kris Meeke, who was by far and away the quickest of the S1600 runners, lost 40s on the day's opening test, due to power steering failure, but still maintaned a comfortable A6 lead until the penultimate stage where he lost 7mins when a sensor plug detatched itself (1km from stage finish) in the engine dropping him to 25th o/a. Meeke maybe back for a couple of WRC rounds later in the season though. Brian O'Mahoney, also in a S1600 Clio, finished 42nd o/a  under SupeRally rules following a crash on SS4 on day one.

http://krismeeke.blogspot.com/

More action

Aava crash, luckily got away with it this time to record a finish

 

Final Classification:

1. Sebastien LOEB 3:26: 19.7
2. Daniel SORDO +47.7
3. François DUVAL +1: 20.0
4. Mikko HIRVONEN +1: 30.1
5. Petter SOLBERG +2: 35.3
6. Christopher ATKINSON +4: 45.9
7. Henning SOLBERG +5: 36.2
8. Urmo AAVA +5: 37.8
9. Jari-Matti LATVALA +6: 17.2
10. Toni GARDEMEISTER +7: 16.8
11. Andreas MIKKELSEN +8: 30.8
12. Matthew WILSON +8: 48.0
13. Conrad RAUTENBACH +9: 24.7
14. Khalid Al QASSIMI +13: 46.0

JWRC Final Classification:

1. OGIER S. / INGRASSIA J.(CITROËN C2 S1600) 
2. BURKART A. / KOELBACH M.(CITROËN C2 S1600) 
3. BETTEGA A. / SCATTOLIN S. (RENAULT Clio R3)
4. GALLAGHER S. / KIELY P. (CITROËN C2 S1600)
5. BERTOLOTTI S. / VERNUCCIO D. (RENAULT Clio R3) 
6. ABBRING K. / DEGANDT B. (RENAULT Clio R3) 
7. CORTINOVIS A. / GUZZI G. (RENAULT Clio S1600) 
8. NIEGEL F. / KACHEL A. (SUZUKI Swift S1600)

 

 WRC Championship Standings after Rally Germany:

1 S. Loeb (F) 76
2 Mr. Hirvonen (FIN) 72
3 D. Sordo (E) 43
4 C. Atkinson (AUS) 40
5 JM. Latvala (FIN) 34
6 P.Solberg (NR) 27
7 H.Solberg (NR) 22
8 G. Galli (I) 17
9 Mr. Wilson (GB) 12
10 F. Duval (B) 11
11 F. Villagra (RA) 8
12 U. Aava (EE) 7
…
 
Manufacturers:
1   TOTAL CITROEN WRT   123
2   BP FORD ABU DHABI WRT   115
3   SUBARU WRT   69
4   STOBART M-SPORT FORD   51
5   MUNCHI' S FORD   19
6   SUZUKI WRT   13

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