 Loeb and Citroen were untouchable around Trier |
World championship leader Sebastien Loeb is well on course for a sixth win in 10 races this season after the first day of the Rally of Germany. The Frenchman, who finished second in the year's other three events, leads by 42.7 seconds from Citroen team-mate Daniel Sordo of Spain.
The highest-placed non-Citroen driver is Ford's Marcus Gronholm in fourth, more than two minutes off the lead.
Finn Toni Gardemeister is third in another Citroen.
Loeb, who has won the German event for the last four years, took five of the day's eight stages, with Sordo winning the other three.
Gronholm, Loeb's closest rival in the title race, tripped up in wet conditions in the afternoon, managing only 12th fastest after a moment on stage six.
Petter Solberg, whose Subaru was repaired after a heavy accident in Thursday's shakedown, was only fifth, despite running as high as third during the morning.
Positions after first of three days of Rally of Germany:
1. Sebastien Loeb (Fra) Citroen one hour 20 minutes 35.0 seconds
2. Daniel Sordo (Spa) Citroen 42.7 seconds behind
3. Toni Gardemeister (Fin) Citroen +2mins 6.0secs
4. Marcus Groenholm (Fin) Ford +2:11.4
5. Petter Solberg (Nor) Subaru +2:23.1
6. Manfred Stohl (Aut) Peugeot +2:29.4
7. Mikko Hirvonen (Fin) Ford +2:48.6
8. Andreas Aigner (Aut) Skoda +2:55.5
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