ADAC RALLYE DEUTSCHLAND

(22 - 25 AUGUST 2013)

At the end of the short opening day of competition in ADAC Rallye Deutschland, Championship leader Sébastien Ogier tops the standings ahead of team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala. Thierry Neuville rounds off the top three, putting all three Championship contenders within 12.7 seconds of one another.

  

The ninth round of the FIA World Rally Championship got underway this afternoon in the shadows of the 765-year-old Cologne Cathedral where a crowd of thousands turned out to cheer on the series contenders. After this, the crews headed straight to the opening two stages en route back to Trier for the overnight halt. In total, 37.64 competitive kilometres were covered ahead of two and a half full days of competition.

  

This afternoon’s first stage saw Ogier immediately claim the advantage, the Frenchman all too aware that he could potentially claim his first world title here on Volkswagen’s home soil. Fastest time in the second stage puts him 5.7 seconds ahead of Latvala, who similarly ran without problems this afternoon. Third on the road, Neuville, found the conditions slippery but he has already pulled out 7.8 seconds on fourth-placed Dani Sordo, the Spaniard surprised at the early pace of his rivals. Mikko Hirvonen is fifth after damaging a wheel on the first stage and Mads Østberg is sixth. The leading retirement so early in the event was Evgeny Novikov, the Russian off the road in the opening stage.

  

Rallye Deutschland – Unofficial Results after Day 1