ADAC Rallye
Deutschland

Based in the historic city of Trier in Germany’s wine-producing Mosel region, ADAC Rallye Deutschland is an asphalt rally like no other with all three days of the event held on different types of sealed surfaces.

The event joined the World Rally Championship roster in 2002 when Sebastien Loeb claimed his maiden victory in the series. The Frenchman went onto to win the event on the next seven occasions before his run came to an end in 2011 when a puncture handed first place to Loeb’s then Citroen team-mate Sebastien Ogier.

Loeb, world rally champion on eight occasions, points to the need to maintain an extremely high level of concentration as the secret behind his recent successes, particularly in the Baumholder military training area, where giant boulders, known as hinkelsteins, line the route.

“It’s an absolute challenge,” Loeb admits. “There are some very fast sections, some extremely difficult passages, narrow and then wide asphalt roads and the surfaces are so varied. The stages in the Mosel vineyards require 100 per cent concentration and the satisfaction afterwards [when you get it right] is immense because the roads are so narrow.

“Then you have the Baumholder, which are unlike any other asphalt roads we know. There are rough, clean, wide and fast sections with gravel, mud and dust thrown in. Nowhere is it harder for a driver to find the right mix. If you want to win in Germany you have to be successful on these stages.”

One of the highlights of ADAC Rallye Deutschland in recent seasons is the inclusion of the Circus Maximus superspecial stage, which runs through the centre of Trier, Germany’s oldest city, and marked the scene of ex-Grand Prix driver Kimi Raikkonen’s first stage victory in the WRC when the Finn went fastest of all in 2010.