Rally Deutschland 2005

Loeb / Duval / Gronholm for the first two stages, strangely enough that's my prediction for the end result (if Duval doesn't lost it again), what's yours?

End of first day:

1 1 Loeb Elena / Citroen Xsara / 1h09'54"0 102.5 km/h
2 2 Duval Smeets / Citroen Xsara / 1h10'05"7 + 00'11"7
3 7 Gronholm Rautiainen / Peugeot 307 / 1h11'05"5 + 01'11"5
4 5 P.Solberg Mills / Subaru Impreza / 1h12'19"1 + 02'25"1
5 3 Gardemeister Honkanen / Ford Focus / 1h12'25"0 + 02'31"0

It look like another good one for Citroen. Well when I said look I meant write as I haven't seen any footage yet, not before Sunday morning here. I don't know what is needed to bring it more on TV... bringing back Groupe B may be.

I must say I can't recall ever seeing a rally quite like this one. Except for one stage the top three finishers were all exactly the same: Loeb first, Duval second, Gronholm third. And that one stage simply reversed the postions of Loeb and Duval.

I'm surprised the Fords aren't doing better since they are on Michelins like Citroen.

Well Citroen has always been strong in Germany and Peugeot is getting back in shape recently.
Still as you said, I can't remember seeing a whole leg with nearly exactly the same result on each stage.
I don't think Duval should mess up this time as I would'nt think that Citroen will allow him to attack Loeb and he's already got a minute to Gronholms.

Final result and fourth win in a row in Germany for Loeb:

1 1 Loeb Elena / Citroen Xsara / 3h27'13"2 102.9 km/h
2 2 Duval Smeets / Citroen Xsara / 3h27'50"6 + 00'37"4
3 7 Gronholm Rautiainen / Peugeot 307 / 3h29'18"0 + 01'27"4
4 8 Martin Park / Peugeot 307 / 3h31'22"6 + 02'04"6
5 10 Galli D Amore / Mitsubishi Lancer / 3h32'16"8 + 00'54"2
6 4 Kresta Tomanek / Ford Focus / 3h32'25"5 + 00'08"7
7 5 P.Solberg Mills / Subaru Impreza / 3h35'01"3 + 02'35"8
8 6 Sarrazin Giraudet / Subaru Impreza / 3h35'47"3 + 00'46"0
9 19 Pons Del Barrio / Citroen Xsara / 3h36'22"4 + 00'35"1
10 9 Rovanpera Pietilainen / Mitsubishi Lancer / 3h36'24"8 + 00'02"4

I saw some footage this morning, Seb absolutly flew over the event (running through vinyard is quite motivating for a french), some onboard camera were absolutly stunning.
Excellent job from Duval, I really think he's a cracking driver, just needed some confidence back. Without Citroen restriction I think he could have definitly been a contender for the win.
Grolhoms third shows that peugeot is really coming back and its association with Pirreli start to work.

I think it's much to early to say Pirelli are starting to work - look at the gap, and there is no way Loeb was pushing 100%.
I think Marcus remains the only driver with a mathemaical chance of winning this years championship, but I doubt Loeb is sick with worry :)

Mathematically Gardemiester, Martin and Solberg could still win too. Realistically the cup already has Seb's name on it again.

Will be interesting to see where the Citroen and Peugeot drivers end up next year when their teams withdraw.