SS17: Ogier plays safe in Germany

Sebastien Ogier continues to adopt a low-risk strategy as he bids to win ADAC Rallye Deutschland for the first time.

Ogier was 15.5s slower than Citroen team-mate Sebastien Loeb on the rain-hit test. As a result his lead has been trimmed to 45.8s with two stages remaining.

“It’s not easy but I’m absolutely taking no risks, it’s very slow driving,” said Ogier. “I can do it because I have a big gap.”

Loeb, who was fastest on the stage, said: “I’m pushing hard and feeling okay in the conditions. The only thing I can do is to put press on him but it might not be enough.”

Factory Ford ace Mikko Hirvonen has all but given up on catching MINI driver Dani Sordo in his pursuit of third place. “I tried in the beginning but couldn’t take time out of him,” said Hirvonen. “Then I overshot a junction.”

Sordo, who is 31.1s ahead of Hirvonen, said: “It’s nice to drive in this condition because you have to be really concentrated. But it’s difficult to take the limit. We changed the tyres and a little bit the set-up in service.”

Fifth-placed Citroen privateer Petter Solberg has grown his margin over Kris Meeke to 7.1s, despite going off briefly towards the end of the stage. “Nothing is enough on this rally,” said Solberg. “It’s the first time I’ve driven in the wet so I have to be happy with my performance.”

MINI driver Meeke added: “I was very cautious because I don’t want to do anything stupid. The small mistakes can put you out of the rally. I love trying but it’s not easy. I’ve written a new set of pace notes this weekend.”

A front-left puncture slowed Kimi Raikkonen to the extent his gap over Henning Solberg is down to 15.3s in the battle for seventh. “It just broke, we didn’t touch anything,” said the Finn. “It was seven or eight kilometres from the end.”

A suspected puncture has delayed Ford’s Jari-Matti Latvala after the Finn was on course to beat Loeb’s fastest stage time.

Standings after SS17: