In addition to the usual 'works' entries - although not the Munchi’s Ford World Rally Team, as the tenth round in the WRC is not one of the Argentine squad’s ten events - there will be an additional 11 privateers in World Rally Cars, including Britain’s Gareth Jones.
Of the rest as well as the 13 crews in the J-WRC, another 49 runners will take in the round - with 20 in Group N4, 15 in Group N3, as well as various runners in A5, A6 and A7 machines, including ex-Junior WRC front runner Kris Meeke, in a Renault Clio 1600.
Route:
The route shows few variations from 2007. It is again based around the service park in Trier, although the second day includes two remote service areas at Birkenfeld. While the stage locations are broadly the same, several tests are used in the opposite direction to last year. After Thursday's ceremonial start at Trier's historic Porta Nigra, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Friday's action is based in the Mosel. Saturday is split between tests in Saarland and Baumholder before the final day returns to the vineyards. The rally ends with a spectacular super special stage around Porta Nigra with several cars on course at the same time. Drivers tackle 19 stages covering 352,89km in a route of 1174.91km.
Last year:
Sebastien Loeb led practically throughout last year and eventually took the victory in Germany by 20.3 seconds, the sixth year in succession he has managed to come out top.
Marcus Gronholm was on course for the runners-up spot, however in the last stage, he went off the road, while trying to keep in front of
Francois Duval, who was on a charge and who won all five stages on the final day. Marcus lost over a minute as a result and dropped down to fourth, behind Duval and
Mikko Hirvonen.
Jan Kopecky meanwhile was fifth, while
Petter Solberg and
Toni Gardemeister were sixth and seventh, the latter having slipped back after a puncture in the penultimate test, something that cost him two places.
Jari-Matti Latvala took the final drivers' point, with Britain's
Matthew Wilson and Guy Wilks ninth and tenth respectively
