History Event 2000s

2004 Wales Rally GB (United Kingdom)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2004 Wales Rally GB (United Kingdom)

Date: September 17–19, 2004

Start Location: Cardiff, Wales

Finish Location: Cardiff, Wales

Total Distance: ~1,150 km (estimated full route)

Competitive Stages: 394.20 km

Surface: Gravel (wet, forest)

Held in the damp and misty Welsh forests, the 2004 Wales Rally GB saw Petter Solberg at his fearless best. After a season of highs and lows, the defending world champion attacked from the outset and never relented, mastering the slippery gravel stages to take a resounding win in front of his co-driver’s home crowd.

Route

Sweet Lamb: Technical and fan-packed with water splashes and dramatic terrain changes.
Myherin: Fast and flowing through dense fog, high commitment and faith in pace notes were essential.
Dyfnant: Slick and narrow with soft mud and limited runoff, required extreme throttle discipline.

The rally featured legendary British forest stages lined with mud, water, and limited visibility. Key stages included:

Rainfall throughout the weekend turned the Welsh gravel into a slippery challenge, especially during early morning loops when fog reduced visibility to just a few meters.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Petter Solberg & Phil Mills · Subaru Impreza WRC
2nd Place
Sébastien Loeb & Daniel Elena · Citroën Xsara WRC
3rd Place
Markko Märtin & Michael Park · Ford Focus RS WRC

Solberg controlled the rally from the outset, taking early stage wins and building a gap that he carefully maintained. Loeb drove smart to avoid unnecessary risks and protect his championship lead, while Märtin completed another consistent podium drive for Ford.

Car Highlights

  • Subaru Impreza WRC: Superb in slippery conditions, Solberg’s setup gave him confidence to push hard in fog and mud.
  • Citroën Xsara WRC: Stable and safe, Loeb opted for risk management rather than outright pace in Wales.
  • Ford Focus RS WRC: Reliable and responsive, Märtin used it effectively in changing grip scenarios.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Fog and Visibility: Morning stages featured thick mist, co-drivers were absolutely essential for corner entry precision.
  • Mud and Ruts: Slick surfaces developed deep grooves by second passes, traction control and line discipline were key.
  • Fatigue and Focus: The intensity of Welsh gravel made for little margin of error, Solberg’s concentration held through all legs.

Solberg’s emphatic win at Rally GB was a reminder of his raw speed and fearless approach, and a fitting end to one of the most tightly contested seasons of the WRC’s modern era.

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