My trip to the Rallye Deutschland 2006

[Marco_Wrc]

I've been to the rally of Germany this year which was an incredible experience.

I'll try to post pictures and tell some stories when time passes.

Yep, that's me (making a funny face) with my brother in law.


On the day before the shakedown we arrived at the campsite which was on the opposite of the road where the servicepark was.
So we instantly went to the servicepark and took a lot of pictures.







Subaru had 2 rally engineer chicks (:


Weighing the car.


A 'few' spare rims. (Ford not only carried spare parts for themselves but also for other Ford teams)




One car had to be decalled.


Servicetruck for Subaru which also carries the car of Petter Solberg.


Refueling at the FIA petrol station for 5€ / litre.

[G-man422]

Wow, i bet that was great time! Those pics are great, thanks for sharing.

[Marco_Wrc]

On thursday we went to the shakedown, about 2,5km away form the servicepark.
We sat on a flat slope watching the cars go by.

Here's Petter Solberg in action:


You may remember that Petter wrecked his car during the shakedown.
I believe that this was our fault (: because my brother in law said to me: "wouldn't it be funny if a car goes into that bush and didn't come out at the other end?"
5 seconds later I said: "Like now?"

Sudden, hordes of people went to that part of the bush and we followed.
Petter had crashed in a slow left corner due to understear.







You can see a tow truck on the right.
The car was covered with a blanket as if nobody was allowed to see the damage.


We rushed to our car and went to the servicepark.
We arrived there before the tow truck.


Subaru built a small tent inside the large service tent. No-one was allowed to see the car.


From that moment we said to ourselves: "Hey, we're here anyway, we'll follow the repairs on this car till the end."
And so we did. At midnight we were the only ones left on the servicepark. (we even got a talk with the Subaru engineers, got some coffee, talked to the security guard, all very special)

Then an exhaust got shoved through an opening in the tent. The engine started. O boy, this car is almost ready.


At 2:30 deep into the night the car was ready and with applause from me and my brother in law they started testdriving the car.


Time for us to go to bed. We got a few hours sleep before the rally started.

[turtlecrxsi]

That's pretty awesome how y'all stayed with the team through the wreck and all the repairs through the night. That seems like something you'll never forget.

[Marco_Wrc]

It sure was an event I'll never forget.

[Marco_Wrc]

There was a messageboard on the servicepark with all sorts of (funny) announcements.


I wonder how they checked this (:


Jan Kopecky driving with 100kmph in a 40kmph zone, oops.
When I get caught doing that here in The Netherlands they'll confiscate my car and I'll have to give up my driving license.


Jan Kopecky's car.


An engineer showing the pedal module.

[Marco_Wrc]

Time to post some pictures again:


Atkinsons car.


There were also about 20 classic rally cars.




Petter Solberg and Phil Mills at the ceremonial start (obviously without their car)


I believe this was an interview after day 1.


While we were driving to the first stage on the second day we were taken over by Gareth McHale.