Torrential rain adds twist in Trier

Rain-soaked roads will add extra spice to the battle for supremacy as ADAC Rallye Deutschland returns to the daunting Panzerplatte military area this afternoon.

The skies opened as drivers arrived in Trier for a 30-minute service before heading out to repeat the three stages they tackled this morning.

After tests in the Mosel vineyards and northern Saarland, the third leg ends with a second pass over the monster 41.06km Arena Panzerplatte stage, which runs through Baumholder’s military land.

Roads that are dusty and slippery in the dry, are renowned for being treacherous in the wet, even with Michelin’s soft compound Pilot Sport tyres to maximise grip.

“The rain was forecast to arrive at 2pm, but it seems to have come early,” said Michelin’s rallies manager, Jacques Morelli. “The forecast is for more rain this afternoon although, as we have seen, this region is notoriously difficult to predict accurately.

“It is still warm and humid, so in these conditions the soft compound is the one to go for. The humid road surface is not so abrasive, so I have no concerns over the rubber lasting the 41km stage.”

Qatar M-Sport team boss Malcolm Wilson is looking after the fortunes of second-placed Thierry Neuville, whose Ford Fiesta RS is 14.8sec behind Jari-Matti Latvala in an exciting battle for the lead.

“This weather could open up the whole thing,” said Wilson. “It could be a lottery. In these conditions and with more than 40km to drive on Baumholder, anything could happen. Any of the top three could win this rally and it will be crucial to avoid mistakes in the rain."