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Rallye Deutschland stage 1 is the 14.84km Sauertal test, the first of four stage layouts, each used twice today. Conditions are good, though bright sunshine could mean tricky visibility at times. This stage was used last year, but in the opposite direction, and there are a few small changes too. It begins on narrow roads before opening up through Trierweiler village. There are many junctions and very fast sections that will require full attention at all times.
 Running in championship order, it was Sebastien Ogier who was first to the stage, and he also completed it fastest. He’s chasing championship title number three, which he could secure here with a win, His time of 7:58.3 gives him a 1.4 second lead over team mate Jari-Matti Latvala, with third Volkswagen driver Andreas Mikkelsen in third, 3.6 seconds down on Ogier. ‘A lot not of hay bales on the stage, we hit one quite hard but we’re okay.’ explained Ogier. Kris Meeke was fourth fastest, and frustrated to have lost 6.3 seconds to the lead VW. ‘They’ve got something we haven’t.’ Dani Sordo and Thierry Neuville complete the top six – it wasn’t such a smooth performance for Ott Tanak, who had an off in his M Sport Fiesta. ‘It happened right at the beginning – I hit a patch of gravel in a braking zone and went off the road. I understeered into a field. It was a big surprise – the car is okay.’ The rally so far has also not been great for Robert Kubica, who carries a five minute penalty for having an engine change last night, while Lorenzo Bertelli pulled out of the rally completely due to illness. |
