Rally Japan 2008

The penultimate round of the 2008 WRC is here – it’s all set for Rally Japan. This is the third rally in October and after two tarmac events in the southern part of Europe, we are now heading for the gravel roads on the island Hokkaido. Forget the sun and high temperature in Spain and Corsica, Sapporo could easily have temperatures below zero and a lot of rain. Since some of the stages are used up to five times, you can imagine how the stages could be at the end.

Hokkaido is one of four big islands in Japan, with Sapporo being the largest city. This is the fifth time Japan is hosting a rally. 344km and 29 stages are waiting, and it will be a tough weekend for both drivers and cars.

Petter won this event in 2004, and both he and the team have been working hard to prepare for this rally, as Japan is the home rally for Subaru. Mikko Hirvonen won here last year, while both Marcus Grønholm and Sebastien Loeb retired.

Itinerary (GMT+9)

Friday, 31. October

0911 SS1 Heper 1 13,24km
0939 SS2 Yuparo 1 11,10km
1042 SS3 Isepo 1  13,67km
1128 SS4 Pipaoi 1 5,74km
Service
1428 SS5 Heper 2 13,24km
1456 SS6 Yuparo 2 11,10km
1628 SS7 Isepo 2  13,67km
1645 SS8 Pipaoi 2 5,74km
1814 SS9 Sapporo 1 1,49km
1824 SS10 Sapporo 2 1,49km

Saturday, 1. November

0828 SS11 Imeru 1 2 2,57km
0921 SS12 Nikara 1 31,12km
1037 SS13 Kamuycep 1 33,66km
1132 SS14 Kina 1  9,55km
Service
1350 SS15 Imeru 2  2,57km
1443 SS16 Nikara 2 31,12km
1559 SS17 Kamuycep 2 33,66km
1654 SS18 Kina 2  9,55km
1809 SS19 Sapporo 3 1,49km
1819 SS20 Sapporo 4 1,49km

Sunday, 2. November

0707 SS21 Koyka 1  3,57km
0726 SS22 Iwanke 1 13,57km
0821 SS23 Sikot 1  27,76km
0853 SS24 Imeru 3  2,57km
1006 SS25 Sapporo 5 1,49km
Service
1158 SS26 Koyka 2  3,57km
1247 SS27 Iwanke 2 13,57km
1312 SS28 Sikot 2  27,76km
1344 SS29 Imeru 4  2,57km