Arena Panzerplatte test set to thrill

ADAC Rallye Deutschland resumes with the Arena Panzerplatte stage shortly with tyre choice one of the main talking points ahead of the 46.54-kilometre test.

Rain has been a constant menace on the FIA World Rally Championship event this morning and with a damp surface expected in the Baumholder military training area, leading crews have opted for soft compound Michelin tyres with some, including rally leader Sebastien Loeb, opting to carry two spare hard compound tyres should he need to make a late change of covers prior to the stage going live in the event of drier conditions materialising.

“I hope it’s the best choice but it’s difficult to know,” said Loeb. “The weather conditions are very difficult and the decision is not only for the safety because it rained a lot in the stage but might be drying up, I don’t know.”

Ford driver Petter Solberg, currently 41.6s behind his Citroen rival in second place, has selected four soft compound tyres and is carrying one soft spare for weight-saving purposes confident it will remain damp.

Loeb’s Citroen team-mate Mikko Hirvonen has opted for four hard compound tyres and one spare hard compound tyres. Dani Sordo has taken four softs and two hard spares in his Prodrive WRC Team MINI.