Rally Deutschland - Program

ADAC Rallye Deutschland, the ninth round of the FIA World Rally Championship, is the first all-asphalt event of the season and presents an unusual challenge for the crews with its variety of roads. With its mix of narrow bumpy lanes in the Mosel vineyards and the daunting military grounds of Baumholder, the German stages provide an interesting cocktail of conditions and the ever-present threat of rain makes it one of the most unpredictable events on the calendar.

Based in the Roman city of Trier, the rally’s location draws spectators from a host of neighbouring countries and this year, for the first time, the rally heads to Cologne for its ceremonial start at the Cologne Cathedral (Roncalliplatz) on Thursday afternoon. En route back to Trier, competitors will take in two stages covering 37.64 competitive kilometres before the action kicks off in earnest Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

As the 2013 Championship heads towards its climax, with just four further rounds remaining after Germany, so the battle for the title hots up. Sébastien Ogier heads the leaderboard ahead of team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala and Belgium’s Thierry Neuville, both on joint points behind the Frenchman. Ogier does have a mathematical chance of clinching the title in Germany so all eyes will not only be on his performance but on the results of those challenging him.

Rallye Deutschland will also see the contenders in the FIA WRC 2 and WRC 3 Championships fighting for honours, as well as the youngsters in the FIA Junior WRC Championship.

CHANGES TO THE ROUTE SINCE 2012

The Rallye Deutschland route remains largely familiar to the crews, but two new stages have been included on Thursday on the run back from the Cologne ceremonial start to Trier. Blankenheim (23.54 km) and Sauertal (14.10 km) are both totally new and all other stages have new or revised sections.

ADAC RALLYE DEUTSCHLAND
— Round: 9/13
— Base and service park: Trier, Viehmarkt
- Surface: Tarmac
— Weather: The weather is often variable with a warm and dry European climate, which can turn to showers within twenty or thirty minutes.
— Sunrise and sunset on the first day of the rally: 6.33am/8.38pm
— Local time: GMT+2
— Currency: Local currency is the Euro.
— Website: www.adac-rallye-deutschland.de
— Technical information: Spare parts (gearbox, differentials, subframes, steering racks and turbochargers) are to be shared with Rallye de France.
— Tyres: 28 Michelin Pilot Sport tyres to be chosen from 28 soft (S1) and 20 hard (H1) tyres.
— Reconnaissance: Monday 19 August, from 9am to 4pm and Tuesday, 20 August, from 8am to 5.45pm.
— Shakedown: Wednesday, 21 August, from 12 midday on a 4.55km-long stage located to the south of Trier, 10.46 kilometres from the service park.
— Route: 16 special stages (9 different stages). 371.86km of timed sections. Total distance: 1,243.34km.

WEDNESDAY 21 AUGUST
12.00pm: Shakedown
5.00pm: FIA Pre-Event Press Conference (Media Centre)

THURSDAY 22 AUGUST
4.15pm: Start (Cologne)
5.53pm: SS1 – Blankenheim (23.54km)
7.58pm: SS2 – Sauertal (14.10km)
8.41pm: Service A (45 min)

FRIDAY 23 AUGUST
9.40am: Service B (15 min)
10.43am: SS3 – Mittelmosel 1 (22.95km)
11.31am: SS4 – Moselland 1 (22.79km)
12.24pm: SS5 – Grafschaft 1 (19.94km)
2.54pm: Service C (30 min)
4.12pm: SS6 – Mittelmosel 1 (22.95km)
5.00pm: SS7 – Moselland 2 (22.79km)
5.53pm: SS8 – Grafschaft 2 (19.94km)
7.26pm: Service D (45 min)

SATURDAY 24 AUGUST
7.10am: Service E (15 min)
8.03am: SS9 – Stein & Wein 1 (26.54km)
9.06am: SS10 – Peterberg 1 (9.23km)
10.29am: SS11 – Arena Panzerplatte 1 (41.08km)
1.17pm: Service F (30 min)
2.25pm: SS12 – Stein & Wein 2 (26.54km)
3.28pm: SS13 – Peterberg 2 (9.23km)
4.51pm: SS14 – Arena Panzerplatte 2 (41.08km)
7.09pm: Service G (45 min)

SUNDAY 25 AUGUST
8.10am: Service H (15 min)
9.18am: SS15 – Dhrontal (24.58km)
11.36am: SS16 – Dhrontal (Power Stage) (24.58km)
12.49pm: Service I (10 min)
2.00pm: Podium
3.15pm: FIA Post-Event Press Conference (Media Centre)