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As is often the case in #germany, unpredictable weather conditions once again shook things up at Rallye Deutschland on day one. After their progress was slowed at the outset by an isolated heavy downpour, #CraigBreen and Scott Martin then fought back up to eighth place. Behind them, #madsostberg and Torstein Eriksen were somewhat held up by an engine issue as they got used to running on tarmac again, ending the leg eleventh overall.
Today's opening leg (101.42km, six stages) was contested amidst the Mosel vineyards. At this time of year, a heavy shower can suddenly hit one side of a hill, producing treacherous conditions, whilst on the other side the road remains completely dry.
Unfortunately, this is exactly the fate suffered by #CraigBreen on Mittelmosel (22km), the day's second stage. Fifth fastest – 6.9s behind the leader – at the penultimate split, he ended the stage some 22.1s back. He was slowed by a heavy shower, which he was the first driver to encounter, on a section of almost four kilometres. Suddenly 30.3s adrift of the lead, he then gradually got back up to speed and inched his way up the leaderboard, despite being quite far down the running order (10th), which meant he had to contend with mud and gravel dragged onto the road by those cars completing the stages before him. His sixth fastest time on the first stage of the afternoon, just four tenths per kilometre off the stage-winning time, moved him up into eighth position. A position he would still hold at the end of this opening leg.
Further information in the press release to download
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