At the end of a perfectly-controlled Rallye Deutschland, the Citroën Junior Team scores a podium for the first time on an asphalt FIA World Rally Championship event. Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia are third behind the two factory Citroën C4 WRCs. Kimi Räikkönen and Kaj Lindströmfinish seventh, having claimed their first fastest stage time in the WRC!

On the third and final day of the rally, there were 85.69 competitive kilometres on the menu. As the carswere getting underway, at 0615, some light rain fell on Trier. Nonetheless, the roads remained drythroughout the morning.

“We had to go quickly in order to keep Jari-Matti Latvala behind us,” reported Sébastien Ogier after thefirst two stages of the day. “With just a 16-second cushion, third place is far from won. We managed toslightly increase that gap though by following the split times.”

Co-driver Julien Ingrassia added: “We still have plenty to do today. These are very tricky roads and therewas a huge amount of pace notes to get through. We couldn’t relax for a single second on the stages!”On the second loop, Sébastien Ogier reinforced his position to claim his very first asphalt podium at thefinish and his fifth podium of the season. “This was an excellent result,” he concluded. “Our objectivewas to finish behind the two factory Citroën C4 WRCs and now we have achieved our goal. So this was avery positive way to finish. I’d like to thank the entire team for a brilliant job well done.”

Kimi Räikkönen and Kaj Lindström started the final day with a set-up that was a little too soft. “I overhottwo junctions and we lost a lot of time,” recounted the Finn. The crew continued to push hard right up tothe end, setting their first fastest stage time on the final Circus Maximus Trier stage (SS19). “I’mdisappointed at having made the mistake in the morning that cost us a place, ” said Räikkönen. “But Ienjoyed the stages on Saturday and Sunday. We’re continuing to rack up experience and that’s veryimportant.”

Team manager Benoit Nogier concluded: “We’ve got to the finish of a long and complicated rally with avery solid performance. Competing on their first Rallye Deutschland in a WRC machine, Sébastien andJulien are on the podium. At the start of the season we were just aiming for some podiums on gravel. Ourgoals have already largely been achieved, with a podium on asphalt to add to our tally as well now.Sébastien and Julien did a great job, coping well with the pressure when they had to go and get pastLatvala. Their performance came pretty close to perfection, I would say. Measuring it on his terms, Kimidid virtually just as well. His mistake this morning cost him a place, but we are all delighted with hisfastest stage time, which is a real morale booster. Now we’re keen to get over to France, for the nextasphalt rally that is going to be an unknown quantity for all the competitors.”

THE RALLY BY NUMBERSSébastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia Kimi Räikkönen / Kaj LindströmSS15: Dhrontal (22.58 km) 3rd +3’’5 3rd +2’09’’1 8th +42’’2 7th +8’05’’1SS16: Moselwein (18.08 km) 3rd +1’’7 3rd +2’10’’8 7th +17’’6 7th +8’22’’7SS17: Dhrontal (22.58 km) 5th +2’’2 3rd +2’12’’8 6th +18’’0 7th +8’40’’5SS18: Moselwein (18.08 km) 3rd +2’’9 3rd +2’15’’7 7th +15’’3 7th +8’55’’8SS19: Circus Maximus (4.37km) 3rd +2’’9 3rd +2’13’’3 1st 7th +8’55’’0Fastest stage times

Day 1 – SS1 to SS3: Sébastien Loeb (Citroën C4) – SS4: Petter Solberg (Citroën C4) – SS5: Loeb –SS6: Dani Sordo (Citroën C4).

Day 2 – SS7: Loeb – SS8: Sordo – SS9 and SS10: Loeb – SS11: Solberg – SS12 and SS13: Sordo –SS14: Solberg.

Day 3 – SS15: Solberg – SS16: Loeb – SS17: Solberg – SS18: Loeb – SS19: Kimi Räikkönen (CitroënC4).Best performers: Loeb, 9 fastest times – Solberg, 5 – Sordo, 4 – Räikkönen, 1.

Leaders: SS1 to SS19: Loeb.

Provisional final classification1. Loeb / Elena Citroën C4 3h59’38’’32. Sordo / Vallejo Citroën C4 +51’’33. Ogier / Ingrassia Citroën C4 +2’13’’34. Latvala / Anttila Ford Focus +2’33’’95. P. Solberg / Patterson Citroën C4 +6’47’’76. Wilson / Martin Ford Focus +8’46’’77. Räikkönen / Lindström Citroën C4 +8’50’’58. Al Qassimi / Orr Ford Focus +17’36’’59. Van Eldik / Buysmans Ford Focus +17’53’’010. Sandell / Axelsson Skoda Fabia +17’58’’8

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