2010 Rally Japan
Encyclopedia
The 2010 Rally Japan, was the 10th round of the 2010 World Rally Championship
(WRC) season. The 26 stage gravel rally took place on 9 – 12 September 2010 and was based in the city of Sapporo. The rally featured eight super specials at the Sapporo Dome
with the rally finishing at the Dome on the Sunday afternoon.
Sébastien Ogier
took the second WRC victory of his career, capitalising on a broken damper for Petter Solberg
which dropped him out of the lead on the final morning of the rally. Ogier also cut into team-mate Sébastien Loeb
's championship lead, reducing it to 43 points before their home event in France.
could have clinched his seventh consecutive world title with three events to spare. With a 58-point lead over team-mate Sébastien Ogier
pre-rally, Loeb had to outscore Ogier by 18 points in order to secure the championship, as well as beating Ford's Jari-Matti Latvala
by 2 points, as the Finnish driver was 74 points behind Loeb. Petter Solberg
and Dani Sordo
were still in mathematical contention but would have to finish in the top two placings in Japan, with Loeb failing to score, to stay in contention.
2010 World Rally Championship season
The 2010 World Rally Championship season was the 38th season of the FIA World Rally Championship. The season consisted of 13 rallies, beginning with Rally Sweden on 11 February and ended Wales Rally GB on 14 November....
(WRC) season. The 26 stage gravel rally took place on 9 – 12 September 2010 and was based in the city of Sapporo. The rally featured eight super specials at the Sapporo Dome
Sapporo Dome
The is a stadium located in Toyohira-ku, Sapporo, Japan, and is primarily used for baseball and football. It is the home field of the baseball team Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters and the football club Consadole Sapporo.-History:...
with the rally finishing at the Dome on the Sunday afternoon.
Sébastien Ogier
Sébastien Ogier
Sébastien Ogier is a French rally driver. He won the Junior World Rally Championship in 2008 and last drove in the World Rally Championship for the Citroën World Rally Team. His co-driver is compatriot Julien Ingrassia. They are set to join Volkswagen's WRC team when they enter the championship in...
took the second WRC victory of his career, capitalising on a broken damper for Petter Solberg
Petter Solberg
Petter "Hollywood" Solberg , from Spydeberg in Østfold, Norway, is a professional rally driver. He debuted in the World Rally Championship in 1998 and was signed by the Ford factory team in 1999...
which dropped him out of the lead on the final morning of the rally. Ogier also cut into team-mate Sébastien Loeb
Sébastien Loeb
Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship...
's championship lead, reducing it to 43 points before their home event in France.
Introduction
Prior to the rally, depending on results, Sébastien LoebSébastien Loeb
Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship...
could have clinched his seventh consecutive world title with three events to spare. With a 58-point lead over team-mate Sébastien Ogier
Sébastien Ogier
Sébastien Ogier is a French rally driver. He won the Junior World Rally Championship in 2008 and last drove in the World Rally Championship for the Citroën World Rally Team. His co-driver is compatriot Julien Ingrassia. They are set to join Volkswagen's WRC team when they enter the championship in...
pre-rally, Loeb had to outscore Ogier by 18 points in order to secure the championship, as well as beating Ford's Jari-Matti Latvala
Jari-Matti Latvala
Jari-Matti Latvala is a Finnish rally driver competing in the World Rally Championship. His co-driver has been Miikka Anttila since the 2003 Rallye Deutschland...
by 2 points, as the Finnish driver was 74 points behind Loeb. Petter Solberg
Petter Solberg
Petter "Hollywood" Solberg , from Spydeberg in Østfold, Norway, is a professional rally driver. He debuted in the World Rally Championship in 1998 and was signed by the Ford factory team in 1999...
and Dani Sordo
Dani Sordo
Daniel "Dani" Sordo Castillo is a Spanish rally driver. He competes in the World Rally Championship for the Mini WRC Team...
were still in mathematical contention but would have to finish in the top two placings in Japan, with Loeb failing to score, to stay in contention.
Event standings
| Pos. | Driver | Co-driver | Car | Time | Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | ||||||
| 1. |  Sébastien OgierSébastien Ogier Sébastien Ogier is a French rally driver. He won the Junior World Rally Championship in 2008 and last drove in the World Rally Championship for the Citroën World Rally Team. His co-driver is compatriot Julien Ingrassia. They are set to join Volkswagen's WRC team when they enter the championship in... |
Julien Ingrassia Julien Ingrassia Julien Ingrassia is a French rally co-driver, currently working with Sébastien Ogier.-References:... |
Citroën C4 WRC Citroën C4 WRC The Citroën C4 WRC is a World Rally Car built for the Citroën World Rally Team by Citroën Racing to compete in the World Rally Championship. It is based upon the Citroën C4 road car and replaced the Citroën Xsara WRC... |
3:10:26.4 | 0.0 | 25 |
| 2. |  Petter SolbergPetter Solberg Petter "Hollywood" Solberg , from Spydeberg in Østfold, Norway, is a professional rally driver. He debuted in the World Rally Championship in 1998 and was signed by the Ford factory team in 1999... |
 Chris Patterson |
Citroën C4 WRC Citroën C4 WRC The Citroën C4 WRC is a World Rally Car built for the Citroën World Rally Team by Citroën Racing to compete in the World Rally Championship. It is based upon the Citroën C4 road car and replaced the Citroën Xsara WRC... |
3:10:42.1 | 15.7 | 18 |
| 3. |  Jari-Matti LatvalaJari-Matti Latvala Jari-Matti Latvala is a Finnish rally driver competing in the World Rally Championship. His co-driver has been Miikka Anttila since the 2003 Rallye Deutschland... |
Miikka Anttila |
Ford Focus RS WRC 09 Ford Focus WRC The Ford Focus RS WRC is a car built for the Ford World Rally Team by Ford and M-Sport and based on the Ford Focus Climate 2-litre production hatchback, developed to compete in the World Rally Championship. The RS stands for Rallye Sport and the WRC for World Rally Car, the car's FIA specification... |
3:10:52.4 | 26.0 | 15 |
| 4. |  Dani SordoDani Sordo Daniel "Dani" Sordo Castillo is a Spanish rally driver. He competes in the World Rally Championship for the Mini WRC Team... |
Diego Vallejo Diego Vallejo Diego Vallejo Folgueira is a Spanish rallye co-driver. He won the Spanish Rally Championship with her brother Sergio Vallejo and run with Dani Sordo on Citroën World Rally Team in 2010 and with Albert Llovera in 2011.... |
Citroën C4 WRC Citroën C4 WRC The Citroën C4 WRC is a World Rally Car built for the Citroën World Rally Team by Citroën Racing to compete in the World Rally Championship. It is based upon the Citroën C4 road car and replaced the Citroën Xsara WRC... |
3:11:01.6 | 35.2 | 12 |
| 5. | Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
 Daniel ElenaDaniel Elena Daniel Elena is a Monegasque rally co-driver, currently working with Sébastien Loeb. Between them, the pair have won the World Rally Championship eight times, and currently compete with the Citroën DS3 WRC... |
Citroën C4 WRC Citroën C4 WRC The Citroën C4 WRC is a World Rally Car built for the Citroën World Rally Team by Citroën Racing to compete in the World Rally Championship. It is based upon the Citroën C4 road car and replaced the Citroën Xsara WRC... |
3:11:19.7 | 53.3 | 10 |
| 6. | Mikko Hirvonen Mikko Hirvonen Mikko Hirvonen is a Finnish rally driver currently driving for the Citroën Total World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship. He placed third in the drivers' championship and helped Ford to the manufacturers' title in both 2006 and 2007. In 2008, 2009 and 2011, he finished runner-up to... |
Jarmo Lehtinen Jarmo Lehtinen Jarmo Lehtinen is a Finnish sports commentator and journalist who works who works for Finland's National Broadcasting Company YLE. He commentates sports events, mainly football matches, for both radio and television. He regularly commentatos football for the Jalkapallokierros program in Radio Suomi... |
Ford Focus RS WRC 09 Ford Focus WRC The Ford Focus RS WRC is a car built for the Ford World Rally Team by Ford and M-Sport and based on the Ford Focus Climate 2-litre production hatchback, developed to compete in the World Rally Championship. The RS stands for Rallye Sport and the WRC for World Rally Car, the car's FIA specification... |
3:11:39.9 | 1:13.5 | 8 |
| 7. | Henning Solberg Henning Solberg Henning Solberg is a Norwegian rally driver. Together with co-driver Ilka Minor, he currently competes in the World Rally Championship with Stobart M-Sport Ford. Solberg is the older brother of the 2003 world champion Petter Solberg.... |
 Ilka Minor |
Ford Focus RS WRC 08 Ford Focus WRC The Ford Focus RS WRC is a car built for the Ford World Rally Team by Ford and M-Sport and based on the Ford Focus Climate 2-litre production hatchback, developed to compete in the World Rally Championship. The RS stands for Rallye Sport and the WRC for World Rally Car, the car's FIA specification... |
3:13:29.5 | 3:03.1 | 6 |
| 8. |  Federico VillagraFederico Villagra Federico Villagra is an Argentine rally driver competing in the World Rally Championship for the Munchi's Ford World Rally Team... |
Jorge Pérez Companc |
Ford Focus RS WRC 08 Ford Focus WRC The Ford Focus RS WRC is a car built for the Ford World Rally Team by Ford and M-Sport and based on the Ford Focus Climate 2-litre production hatchback, developed to compete in the World Rally Championship. The RS stands for Rallye Sport and the WRC for World Rally Car, the car's FIA specification... |
3:20:44.3 | 10:17.9 | 4 |
| 9. | Jari Ketomaa Jari Ketomaa -Career:A former kart racer, Ketomaa started rallying in 1995. He made his World Rally Championship debut in 2000 at Rally Finland. He won the Group N class of the Finnish Rally Championship in 2006 and 2007. In 2008, he competed a full season in the Production World Rally Championship, finishing... |
Mika Stenberg |
Ford Fiesta S2000 | 3:25:13.5 | 14:47.1 | 2 |
| 10. |  Martin ProkopMartin Prokop Martin Prokop is a Czech rally driver. He won the Junior World Rally Championship in the 2009 season.-Career:... |
Jan Tománek |
Ford Fiesta S2000 | 3:25:47.2 | 15:20.8 | 1 |
| SWRC | ||||||
| 1. (9.) | Jari Ketomaa Jari Ketomaa -Career:A former kart racer, Ketomaa started rallying in 1995. He made his World Rally Championship debut in 2000 at Rally Finland. He won the Group N class of the Finnish Rally Championship in 2006 and 2007. In 2008, he competed a full season in the Production World Rally Championship, finishing... |
Mika Stenberg |
Ford Fiesta S2000 | 3:25:13.5 | 0.0 | 25 |
| 2. (10.) | Martin Prokop Martin Prokop Martin Prokop is a Czech rally driver. He won the Junior World Rally Championship in the 2009 season.-Career:... |
Jan Tománek |
Ford Fiesta S2000 | 3:25:47.2 | 33.7 | 18 |
| PWRC | ||||||
| 1. (11.) |  Patrik FlodinPatrik Flodin Patrik Flodin is a rally driver from Sweden. Flodin won the Swedish Championship in 2006. In 2009, Flodin contests in the Production World Rally Championship with the URT-team driving a Subaru Impreza... |
Göran Bergsten |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI Subaru Impreza WRX STI The Subaru Impreza WRX STI, has the highest trim in the Subaru Impreza compact car line, produced by Japanese automaker Subaru.In the late 1980s, Subaru created the Subaru Tecnica International division to coordinate development for the FIA World Rally Championship and other motorsports activities... |
3:31:08.3 | 0.0 | 25 |
| 2. (12.) |  Hayden PaddonHayden Paddon -Career:Paddon was introduced into motorsport at an early age, his father Chris being a rally driver. Haydon began his career competing in karting. He competed in his first rally in 2002, at the age of 15. In 2006 he began competing in the New Zealand Rally Championship in a Mitsubishi Lancer... |
John Kennard |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X | 3:33:54.1 | 2:45.8 | 18 |
| 3. (16.) |  Gianluca Linari |
Paolo Gregoriani |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI Subaru Impreza WRX STI The Subaru Impreza WRX STI, has the highest trim in the Subaru Impreza compact car line, produced by Japanese automaker Subaru.In the late 1980s, Subaru created the Subaru Tecnica International division to coordinate development for the FIA World Rally Championship and other motorsports activities... |
3:46:15.1 | 15:06.8 | 15 |
| 4. (17.) |  Kyosuke Kamata |
Takumi Takahashi |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX | 3:48:18.6 | 17:10.3 | 12 |
| 5. (20.) |  Wang Rui |
Pan Hongyu |
Subaru Impreza WRX STI Subaru Impreza WRX STI The Subaru Impreza WRX STI, has the highest trim in the Subaru Impreza compact car line, produced by Japanese automaker Subaru.In the late 1980s, Subaru created the Subaru Tecnica International division to coordinate development for the FIA World Rally Championship and other motorsports activities... |
3:53:07.8 | 21:59.5 | 10 |
| 6. (46.) | Reijo Muhonen |
Lasse Miettinen |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X | 4:39:53.3 | 1:08:45.0 | 8 |
Special stages
| Day | Stage | Time | Name | Length | Winner | Time | Avg. spd. | Rally leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leg 1 (9–10 Sept) |
SS1 | 18:40 | SSS Sapporo 1 | 1.57 km | Sébastien Ogier Sébastien Ogier Sébastien Ogier is a French rally driver. He won the Junior World Rally Championship in 2008 and last drove in the World Rally Championship for the Citroën World Rally Team. His co-driver is compatriot Julien Ingrassia. They are set to join Volkswagen's WRC team when they enter the championship in... |
1:21.8 | 69.10 km/h | Sébastien Ogier Sébastien Ogier Sébastien Ogier is a French rally driver. He won the Junior World Rally Championship in 2008 and last drove in the World Rally Championship for the Citroën World Rally Team. His co-driver is compatriot Julien Ingrassia. They are set to join Volkswagen's WRC team when they enter the championship in... |
| SS2 | 18:52 | SSS Sapporo 2 | 1.57 km | Sébastien Ogier Sébastien Ogier Sébastien Ogier is a French rally driver. He won the Junior World Rally Championship in 2008 and last drove in the World Rally Championship for the Citroën World Rally Team. His co-driver is compatriot Julien Ingrassia. They are set to join Volkswagen's WRC team when they enter the championship in... |
1:21.4 | 69.43 km/h | ||
| SS3 | 10:23 | Iwanke 1 | 26.92 km | Petter Solberg Petter Solberg Petter "Hollywood" Solberg , from Spydeberg in Østfold, Norway, is a professional rally driver. He debuted in the World Rally Championship in 1998 and was signed by the Ford factory team in 1999... |
16:21.2 | 98.77 km/h | ||
| SS4 | 11:27 | Sikot 1 | 27.76 km | Petter Solberg Petter Solberg Petter "Hollywood" Solberg , from Spydeberg in Østfold, Norway, is a professional rally driver. He debuted in the World Rally Championship in 1998 and was signed by the Ford factory team in 1999... |
15:49.9 | 105.21 km/h | Petter Solberg Petter Solberg Petter "Hollywood" Solberg , from Spydeberg in Østfold, Norway, is a professional rally driver. He debuted in the World Rally Championship in 1998 and was signed by the Ford factory team in 1999... |
|
| SS5 | 12:15 | Koyka 1 | 3.55 km | Henning Solberg Henning Solberg Henning Solberg is a Norwegian rally driver. Together with co-driver Ilka Minor, he currently competes in the World Rally Championship with Stobart M-Sport Ford. Solberg is the older brother of the 2003 world champion Petter Solberg.... |
1:55.1 | 111.03 km/h | ||
| SS6 | 15:03 | Iwanke 2 | 26.92 km | Jari-Matti Latvala Jari-Matti Latvala Jari-Matti Latvala is a Finnish rally driver competing in the World Rally Championship. His co-driver has been Miikka Anttila since the 2003 Rallye Deutschland... |
16:08.0 | 100.12 km/h | ||
| SS7 | 16:07 | Sikot 2 | 27.76 km | Mikko Hirvonen Mikko Hirvonen Mikko Hirvonen is a Finnish rally driver currently driving for the Citroën Total World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship. He placed third in the drivers' championship and helped Ford to the manufacturers' title in both 2006 and 2007. In 2008, 2009 and 2011, he finished runner-up to... |
15:35.0 | 106.88 km/h | ||
| SS8 | 16:55 | Koyka 2 | 3.55 km | Mikko Hirvonen Mikko Hirvonen Mikko Hirvonen is a Finnish rally driver currently driving for the Citroën Total World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship. He placed third in the drivers' championship and helped Ford to the manufacturers' title in both 2006 and 2007. In 2008, 2009 and 2011, he finished runner-up to... |
1:55.9 | 110.27 km/h | ||
| SS9 | 18:34 | SSS Sapporo 3 | 1.57 km | Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
1:24.5 | 66.89 km/h | ||
| SS10 | 18:46 | SSS Sapporo 4 | 1.57 km | Petter Solberg Petter Solberg Petter "Hollywood" Solberg , from Spydeberg in Østfold, Norway, is a professional rally driver. He debuted in the World Rally Championship in 1998 and was signed by the Ford factory team in 1999... |
1:24.0 | 67.29 km/h | ||
| Leg 2 (11 Sept) |
SS11 | 10:28 | Nikara 1 | 17.68 km | Petter Solberg Petter Solberg Petter "Hollywood" Solberg , from Spydeberg in Østfold, Norway, is a professional rally driver. He debuted in the World Rally Championship in 1998 and was signed by the Ford factory team in 1999... |
9:38.8 | 109.97 km/h | |
| SS12 | 11:26 | Kamuycep 1 | 33.76 km | Jari-Matti Latvala Jari-Matti Latvala Jari-Matti Latvala is a Finnish rally driver competing in the World Rally Championship. His co-driver has been Miikka Anttila since the 2003 Rallye Deutschland... |
21:02.3 | 96.28 km/h | ||
| SS13 | 12:22 | Kina 1 | 9.55 km | Dani Sordo Dani Sordo Daniel "Dani" Sordo Castillo is a Spanish rally driver. He competes in the World Rally Championship for the Mini WRC Team... |
5:34.5 | 102.78 km/h | Jari-Matti Latvala Jari-Matti Latvala Jari-Matti Latvala is a Finnish rally driver competing in the World Rally Championship. His co-driver has been Miikka Anttila since the 2003 Rallye Deutschland... |
|
| SS14 | 15:09 | Nikara 2 | 17.68 km | Petter Solberg Petter Solberg Petter "Hollywood" Solberg , from Spydeberg in Østfold, Norway, is a professional rally driver. He debuted in the World Rally Championship in 1998 and was signed by the Ford factory team in 1999... |
9:30.0 | 111.66 km/h | ||
| SS15 | 16:07 | Kamuycep 2 | 33.76 km | Dani Sordo Dani Sordo Daniel "Dani" Sordo Castillo is a Spanish rally driver. He competes in the World Rally Championship for the Mini WRC Team... |
20:31.5 | 98.69 km/h | ||
| SS16 | 17:03 | Kina 2 | 9.55 km | Petter Solberg Petter Solberg Petter "Hollywood" Solberg , from Spydeberg in Østfold, Norway, is a professional rally driver. He debuted in the World Rally Championship in 1998 and was signed by the Ford factory team in 1999... |
5:32.6 | 103.37 km/h | Petter Solberg Petter Solberg Petter "Hollywood" Solberg , from Spydeberg in Østfold, Norway, is a professional rally driver. He debuted in the World Rally Championship in 1998 and was signed by the Ford factory team in 1999... |
|
| SS17 | 18:33 | SSS Sapporo 5 | 1.57 km | Petter Solberg Petter Solberg Petter "Hollywood" Solberg , from Spydeberg in Østfold, Norway, is a professional rally driver. He debuted in the World Rally Championship in 1998 and was signed by the Ford factory team in 1999... |
1:24.8 | 66.65 km/h | ||
| SS18 | 18:45 | SSS Sapporo 6 | 1.57 km | Mikko Hirvonen Mikko Hirvonen Mikko Hirvonen is a Finnish rally driver currently driving for the Citroën Total World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship. He placed third in the drivers' championship and helped Ford to the manufacturers' title in both 2006 and 2007. In 2008, 2009 and 2011, he finished runner-up to... |
1:24.1 | 67.21 km/h | ||
| Leg 3 (12 Sept) |
SS19 | 7:31 | Bisan 1 | 4.71 km | Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
2:27.7 | 114.80 km/h | |
| SS20 | 8:13 | Naekawa 1 | 17.86 km | Sébastien Ogier Sébastien Ogier Sébastien Ogier is a French rally driver. He won the Junior World Rally Championship in 2008 and last drove in the World Rally Championship for the Citroën World Rally Team. His co-driver is compatriot Julien Ingrassia. They are set to join Volkswagen's WRC team when they enter the championship in... |
14:21.6 | 74.62 km/h | Sébastien Ogier Sébastien Ogier Sébastien Ogier is a French rally driver. He won the Junior World Rally Championship in 2008 and last drove in the World Rally Championship for the Citroën World Rally Team. His co-driver is compatriot Julien Ingrassia. They are set to join Volkswagen's WRC team when they enter the championship in... |
|
| SS21 | 9:37 | Sunagawa 1 | 3.70 km | Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
2:39.7 | 83.41 km/h | ||
| SS22 | 10:12 | Bisan 2 | 4.71 km | Sébastien Ogier Sébastien Ogier Sébastien Ogier is a French rally driver. He won the Junior World Rally Championship in 2008 and last drove in the World Rally Championship for the Citroën World Rally Team. His co-driver is compatriot Julien Ingrassia. They are set to join Volkswagen's WRC team when they enter the championship in... |
2:26.4 | 115.82 km/h | ||
| SS23 | 10:54 | Naekawa 2 | 17.86 km | Jari-Matti Latvala Jari-Matti Latvala Jari-Matti Latvala is a Finnish rally driver competing in the World Rally Championship. His co-driver has been Miikka Anttila since the 2003 Rallye Deutschland... |
14:05.6 | 76.04 km/h | ||
| SS24 | 11:58 | Sunagawa 2 | 3.70 km | Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
2:36.3 | 85.22 km/h | ||
| SS25 | 14:00 | SSS Sapporo 7 | 1.57 km | Sébastien Ogier Sébastien Ogier Sébastien Ogier is a French rally driver. He won the Junior World Rally Championship in 2008 and last drove in the World Rally Championship for the Citroën World Rally Team. His co-driver is compatriot Julien Ingrassia. They are set to join Volkswagen's WRC team when they enter the championship in... |
1:24.0 | 67.29 km/h | ||
| SS26 | 14:12 | SSS Sapporo 8 | 1.57 km | Jari-Matti Latvala Jari-Matti Latvala Jari-Matti Latvala is a Finnish rally driver competing in the World Rally Championship. His co-driver has been Miikka Anttila since the 2003 Rallye Deutschland... |
1:23.8 | 67.45 km/h |