Francois Duval - CitroenCitroen's Francois Duval and Subaru's Stephane Sarrazin led the way in a rain-affected final shakedown for this weekend's OMV ADAC Rallye in Germany. The asphalt aces got the best out of their cars in tricky conditions on the short test run between Sotern and Bosen, just outside the host town of Trier.
2003 title winner Petter Solberg was third quickest in his lead works Subaru, while Peugeot pair Marcus Gronholm and Markko Martin and home hero Armin Schwarz in the lead Skoda rounded out the top six times. With four Pirelli-shod cars in the top six, and the Pirelli-shod Mitsubishis of Gigi Galli and Harri Rovanpera in the top 10, the Italian tyre firm can be optimistic it is a match for French rival Michelin on wet asphalt roads. But, with three days of dry weather predicted for the rally itself, it will be interesting to see if Pirelli can match Michelin on dry asphalt.
German-born Ford privateer Antony Warmbold won't be starting his home event as he was involved in a road accident during the pre-event recce. Although the Ford Focus driver wasn't injured in the incident, he has decided not to take any further part in the weekend's proceedings.
OMV ADAC Rallye shakedown times
1 Duval (Citroen Xsara) 1m49.3s
2 Sarrazin (Subaru Impreza) 1m49.7s
3 Solberg (Subaru Impreza) 1m50.3s
4 Gronholm (Peugeot 307) 1m51.1s
5 Martin (Peugeot 307) 1m51.2s
6 Schwarz (Skoda Fabia) 1m51.6s
7 Galli (Mitsubishi Lancer) 1m52.1s
8 Loeb (Citroen Xsara) 1m52.2s
9 Rovanpera (Mitsubishi Lancer) 1m53.2s
10 Kresta (Ford Focus) 1m54.0s
11 Gardemeister (Ford Focus) 1m54.4s
12 Bengue (Skoda Fabia) 1m54.7s
13 Bernardi (Peugeot 206) 2m01.5s **
14 Vojtech (Peugeot 206) 2m05.9s **
15 Stohl (Citroen Xsara) 2m06.5s **
16 Atkinson (Subaru Impreza) 2m07.2s *
17 Sola (Ford Focus) 2m08.3s **
18 Kopecky (Skoda Fabia) 2m09.8s *
19 Pons (Citroen Xsara) 2m09.9s **
* works entry not registered for manufacturers' points
** privateer entry
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photos online after the different stages on automobilsport.com
