SS1 / SS2  Perth City Super 1 & 2 (2.35km)

The final round of the 2005 FIA World Rally Championship started in style at the Perth City Superspecial in Gloucester Park on the bank of the Swan River.

The figure-of-eight track was built in an arena currently used for horse-racing and featured a high jump and round, sweeping corners. Two crews faced each other side-by-side to run two laps of the 2.3km course before a short break and then a further two laps.

Each pair of laps constituted one stage. Subaru's Petter Solberg started his campaign for second place in the drivers' championship in earnest by taking the first stage win of the event as he raced World Champion Sébastien Loeb and followed the win with the joint third fastest time in the second run.

The Norwegian's competitive times placed him in the overall lead of the rally, 0.2secs ahead of rival Marcus Gronholm. Citroen drivers François Duval and Loeb finished the night in third and fourth positions, with Mitsubishi pilot Harri Rovanpera completing the top five. Chris Atkinson received loud applause in the first stages of his home event as he ended the day in sixth place overall.

After the stage finish spectators were treated to a spectacular fireworks display to mark the start of Rally Australia.

Fastest Time: SS1 fastest time: Solberg (Subaru) 1:33.3 / SS2 fastest time: Gronholm (Peugeot) 1:32.9