The drama actually started months before the beginning of Rallye Germany when organizers decided to move the service park back to the Bostalsee after 11 years.
We remembered it well enough to have a bitter feeling about these piece of news. Desastrous conditions transformed the service park into a completely muddy field back in 2006. Since then it was located in Trier and the starting events revolved around the Porta Nigra. Due to some disagreements with local public authorities and offerings from the ADAC branch in Saarland the rallye was forced to relocate it down there to the Bostalsee.
After the new shakedown stage „Peterberg“ the first stage was another novelty. In the middle of Saarbrücken, capital city of the state of Saarland, drivers had to face a short and narrow street course which demanded absolute concentration. It was only a matter of time until sombody made a mistake – and unfortunately it was Kris Meeke. His hopes beforehand were high, but they were crashed within a second when he destroyed his right wheel suspension while cutting too close to a concrete block. Winner of the Super Special Stage was surprisingly Jan Kopecky who showed extremely precise driving skills in the obstacle course.
Friday started rainy which led to many minor problems, even for the top drivers. Sebastien Ogier spinned his car on SS2, Thierry Neuville lamost slid into the vineyrads in a harmless corner, Jari-Matti Latvala damaged his bodywork on stage 2 and Dani Sordo came off the road on SS4. The rallye started to become much more interesting than expected. The men who emerged from the many mistakes were Andreas Mikkelsen and Ott Tänak. But only the latter was able to push constantly and soon placed himself up front without giving away his head until the end. This was a remarkable act of consistency throughout the event by the Estonian.
The next day started with a disaster for Thierry Neuville who was unable to continue after he cut too deep on the Panzerplatte. The suspension of his back left wheels broke down and destroyed his goal of winning the championship. He had to push his limits hoping to collect as many points as possible to close the gap between him and Ogier in the overall championship standings which merely resulted in shattered dreams. After this accident Ogier knew he could drive more safely without risking anything serious. His orders were to secure as many points as possible which he eventually did by taking up third place at the end of Sunday.
In the final classification Tänak reached the top spot, followed by Mikkelsen and Ogier. The first Hyundai pilot was Juho Hänninen on fourth place. Here are the detailled final results:
| 1. | 2 | Tänak Ott – Järveoja Martin Ford Fiesta WRC ’17 |
RC1 M |
2:57:31.7 | 104.5 | |
| 2. | 9 | Mikkelsen Andreas – Jæger A. Citroën C3 WRC |
RC1 M |
2:57:48.1 | +16.4 +16.4 |
104.3 0.05 |
| 3. | 1 | Ogier S. – Ingrassia J. Ford Fiesta WRC ’17 |
RC1 M |
2:58:02.1 | +30.4 +14.0 |
104.2 0.10 |
| 4. | 11 | Hänninen Juho – Lindström K. Toyota Yaris WRC |
RC1 M |
2:59:20.9 | +1:49.2 +1:18.8 |
103.4 0.35 |
| 5. +1 |
8 | Breen Craig – Martin Scott Citroën C3 WRC |
RC1 M |
2:59:33.2 | +2:01.5 +12.3 |
103.3 0.39 |
| 6. −1 |
3 | Evans Elfyn – Barritt Daniel Ford Fiesta WRC ’17 |
RC1 M |
2:59:35.1 | +2:03.4 +1.9 |
103.3 0.40 |
| 7. | 10 | Latvala J. – Anttila M. Toyota Yaris WRC |
RC1 M |
3:01:29.9 | +3:58.2 +1:54.8 |
102.2 0.77 |
| 8. | 4 | Paddon Hayden – Marshall S. Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC |
RC1 M |
3:02:04.1 | +4:32.4 +34.2 |
101.9 0.88 |
| 9. | 14 | Kremer Armin – Winklhofer P. Ford Fiesta WRC ’17 |
RC1 | 3:07:51.1 0:10 |
+10:19.4 +5:47.0 |
98.8 2.00 |
| 10. | 33 | Camilli Eric – Veillas B. Ford Fiesta R5 |
RC2 | 3:08:16.0 | +10:44.3 +24.9 |
98.5 2.08 |
| 11. | 34 | Kopecký Jan – Dresler Pavel Škoda Fabia R5 |
RC2 | 3:09:04.1 | +11:32.4 +48.1 |
98.1 2.24 |
| 12. | 31 | Tidemand Pontus – Andersson J. Škoda Fabia R5 |
RC2 | 3:10:06.7 | +12:35.0 +1:02.6 |
97.6 2.44 |
| 13. | 39 | Gilbert Quentin – Jamoul R. Škoda Fabia R5 |
RC2 | 3:11:19.4 | +13:47.7 +1:12.7 |
97.0 2.68 |
| 14. | 42 | Loubet P. – Landais V. Ford Fiesta R5 |
RC2 | 3:12:04.9 | +14:33.2 +45.5 |
96.6 2.82 |
| 15. | 37 | Tempestini S. – Bernacchini G. Citroën DS3 R5 |
RC2 | 3:12:06.8 | +14:35.1 +1.9 |
96.6 2.83 |
| 16. | 32 | Suninen Teemu – Markkula Mikko Ford Fiesta R5 |
RC2 | 3:12:33.2 | +15:01.5 +26.4 |
96.3 2.92 |
| 17. | 41 | Griebel Marijan – Kopczyk S. Škoda Fabia R5 |
RC2 | 3:13:01.5 | +15:29.8 +28.3 |
96.1 3.01 |
| 18. | 36 | Guerra jr. Benito – Cué D. Škoda Fabia R5 |
RC2 | 3:14:25.5 | +16:53.8 +1:24.0 |
95.4 3.28 |
| 19. | 44 | Bergkvist Emil – Fløene Ola Citroën DS3 R5 |
RC2 | 3:15:20.9 | +17:49.2 +55.4 |
95.0 3.46 |
| 20. | 47 | ten Brinke B. – Thierie D. Škoda Fabia R5 |
RC2 | 3:15:31.2 | +17:59.5 +10.3 |
94.9 3.49 |
| 21. | 12 | Lappi Esapekka – Ferm Janne Toyota Yaris WRC |
RC1 M |
3:15:36.9 | +18:05.2 +5.7 |
94.8 3.51 |
| 22. | 72 | Lim Chewon – Wydaeghe Martijn Hyundai i20 R5 |
RC2 | 3:19:08.0 | +21:36.3 +3:31.1 |
93.2 4.19 |
| 23. | 43 | Pieniążek Łukasz – Mazur P. Peugeot 208 T16 |
RC2 | 3:20:29.6 | +22:57.9 +1:21.6 |
92.5 4.46 |
| 24. | 22 | Raoux J. – Galmiche I. Citroën DS3 WRC |
RC1 | 3:22:19.2 | +24:47.5 +1:49.6 |
91.7 4.81 |
| 25. | 23 | Serderidis J. – Miclotte F. Citroën DS3 WRC |
RC1 | 3:23:55.2 | +26:23.5 +1:36.0 |
91.0 5.12 |
| 26. | 76 | Huttunen Jari – Linnaketo A. Opel Adam R2 |
RC4 | 3:26:35.1 | +29:03.4 +2:39.9 |
89.8 5.64 |
| 27. | 45 | Bonato Yoann – Boulloud B. Citroën DS3 R5 |
RC2 | 3:27:35.6 0:20 |
+30:03.9 +1:00.5 |
89.5 5.83 |
| 28. +1 |
78 | Gassner Jr Hermann – Kramer J. Toyota GT86 CS-R3 |
RC3 | 3:29:10.3 | +31:38.6 +1:34.7 |
88.7 6.14 |
| 29. −1 |
80 | Boland Eamonn – Morrissey M. Ford Fiesta R5 |
RC2 | 3:29:13.0 | +31:41.3 +2.7 |
88.7 6.15 |
| 30. | 77 | van der Marel T. – van der Marel-Smart R. Opel Adam R2 |
RC4 | 3:29:50.2 | +32:18.5 +37.2 |
88.4 6.27 |
| 31. | 66 | Tannert Julius – Heigl Jürgen Ford Fiesta R2T |
RC4 | 3:30:54.4 | +33:22.7 +1:04.2 |
88.0 6.48 |
| 32. | 48 | Armstrong Jon – O’Sullivan N. Ford Fiesta R5 |
RC2 | 3:31:23.7 | +33:52.0 +29.3 |
87.8 6.57 |
| 33. | 75 | Gassner H. – Thannhäuser K. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X |
RC2 | 3:32:22.1 | +34:50.4 +58.4 |
87.3 6.76 |
| 34. | 6 | Sordo Dani – Martí Marc Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC |
RC1 M |
3:32:50.7 | +35:19.0 +28.6 |
87.2 6.85 |
| 35. | 74 | Rujbr Patrik – Římalová V. Škoda Fabia R5 |
RC2 | 3:36:53.5 0:10 |
+39:21.8 +4:02.8 |
85.6 7.64 |
| 36. | 88 | Gropp Uwe – Ostlender Hanna Citroën DS3 R3T Max |
RC3 | 3:39:35.6 | +42:03.9 +2:42.1 |
84.5 8.16 |
| 37. | 86 | Lario T. – Hämäläinen T. Peugeot 208 R2 |
RC4 | 3:39:48.6 | +42:16.9 +13.0 |
84.4 8.21 |
| 38. | 61 | Astier Raphaël – Vauclare F. Peugeot 208 R2 |
RC4 | 3:42:15.7 2:20 |
+44:44.0 +2:27.1 |
84.3 8.68 |
| 39. | 63 | Solans Nil – Ibáñez Sotos M. Ford Fiesta R2T |
RC4 | 3:43:15.0 | +45:43.3 +59.3 |
83.1 8.87 |
| 40. | 62 | Brazzoli Enrico – Barone M. Peugeot 208 R2 |
RC4 | 3:46:06.3 | +48:34.6 +2:51.3 |
82.0 9.43 |
| 41. +1 |
38 | Rossel Yohan – Fulcrand B. Citroën DS3 R5 |
RC2 | 3:49:36.4 5:00 |
+52:04.7 +3:30.1 |
82.6 10.1 |
| 42. +1 |
79 | Vossen Henk – van Barschot S. Ford Fiesta R5 |
RC2 | 3:52:38.0 0:20 |
+55:06.3 +3:01.6 |
79.9 10.7 |
| 43. +1 |
95 | Hohlheimer Jürgen – Sanesi S. Renault Twingo RS R2 |
RC4 | 3:53:45.6 | +56:13.9 +1:07.6 |
79.4 10.9 |
| 44. +1 |
5 | Neuville Thierry – Gilsoul N. Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC |
RC1 M |
3:53:57.3 | +56:25.6 +11.7 |
79.3 11.0 |
| 45. +1 |
87 | Wendling Yannick – Di Nisi L. Peugeot 208 R2 |
RC4 | 3:56:23.8 | +58:52.1 +2:26.5 |
78.5 11.4 |
| 46. +1 |
91 | Lauer Frank – Brack Martin Citroën DS3 R3T |
RC3 | 3:57:14.3 0:10 |
+59:42.6 +50.5 |
78.2 11.6 |
| 47. +1 |
64 | Ciamin Nicolas – de la Haye T. Ford Fiesta R2T |
RC4 | 3:58:14.9 4:20 |
+1:00:43.2 +1:00.6 |
79.3 11.8 |
| 48. +1 |
81 | Molle Amaury – Herman Renaud Peugeot 208 R2 |
RC4 | 4:06:10.1 0:10 |
+1:08:38.4 +7:55.2 |
75.4 13.3 |
| 49. +1 |
90 | Molinaro T. – Gulbæk Engan V. Opel Adam R2 |
RC4 | 4:06:10.7 1:20 |
+1:08:39.0 +0.6 |
75.8 13.3 |
| 50. +1 |
94 | Ehlhardt Wolfgang – Michel H. Opel Astra GTC CDTi |
RC2 | 4:19:22.0 0:20 |
+1:21:50.3 +13:11.3 |
71.6 15.9 |
| 51. +1 |
65 | Folb Terry – Guieu Christopher Ford Fiesta R2T |
RC4 | 4:24:30.1 0:10 |
+1:26:58.4 +5:08.1 |
70.2 16.9 |
| 52. +1 |
93 | Wecker Josef – Clemens Stefan Renault Clio RS R3T |
RC3 | 4:26:31.0 | +1:28:59.3 +2:00.9 |
69.6 17.3 |
| 53. +1 |
96 | Bächle Christian – Brack I. Citroën DS3 R1 |
RC5 | 4:33:12.0 0:10 |
+1:35:40.3 +6:41.0 |
67.9 18.6 |
| 54. +1 |
89 | Williams Tom – Hall Phil Ford Fiesta R2 |
RC4 | 4:59:15.6 | +2:01:43.9 +26:03.6 |
62.0 23.6 |
(Source: https://www.ewrc-results.com/results/36020-adac-rallye-deutschland-2017/)
