History Event 2000s

2005 Rally Japan (Japan)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2005 Rally Japan (Japan)

Date: September 30 – October 2, 2005

Start Location: Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan

Finish Location: Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan

Total Distance: ~1,200 km (estimated full route)

Competitive Stages: 350.19 km

Surface: Gravel (tight, fast, forest)

In Japan’s scenic but demanding forests, Marcus Grönholm returned to the top of the WRC podium with a decisive win at Rally Japan. After disappointment in Corsica, the Finn responded with clinical speed and discipline, taking advantage of rivals' mistakes and leading Peugeot to a late-season high point.

Route

Satsunai: Fast and flowing through the woods, demanded trust in pace notes and car stability.
Rikubetsu: A mix of tight hairpins and short straights, high concentration required on every braking zone.
Kamuycep: A modern classic, alternating speeds and grip levels with tree-lined walls on both sides.

Rally Japan’s compact route around Obihiro featured narrow gravel roads, blind corners, and rhythm-breaking hairpins. Key stages included:

The gravel was soft and loose on the first pass but gripped up on second loops, tire strategy and dust management were crucial.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Marcus Grönholm & Timo Rautiainen · Peugeot 307 WRC
2nd Place
Sébastien Loeb & Daniel Elena · Citroën Xsara WRC
3rd Place
Chris Atkinson & Glenn MacNeall · Subaru Impreza WRC

Grönholm’s faultless drive kept Loeb at bay, while young Chris Atkinson impressed the home-brand Subaru team with a confident podium, his first career top-three WRC finish.

Car Highlights

  • Peugeot 307 WRC: Perfectly suited to the smooth and twisty Japanese gravel, Grönholm used its balance and sharp turn-in to full effect.
  • Citroën Xsara WRC: Competitive but a step behind in traction out of hairpins, Loeb drove smart to collect points without risk.
  • Subaru Impreza WRC: Strong showing at home, Atkinson took advantage of clean air and consistent grip to deliver a career-best result.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Dust Management: With tight gaps and forest shadows, dust hung in the air, good road position helped Grönholm avoid the worst.
  • Precision Required: Japan’s narrow roads left no margin, pacenote accuracy was more vital than raw pace in places.
  • Fatigue and Focus: Many short, sharp stages demanded repeated resets in concentration, Grönholm remained calm and controlled throughout.

Grönholm’s win in Japan gave Peugeot a vital morale boost as the season neared its end, while Loeb’s runner-up finish edged him ever closer to clinching the 2005 WRC title.

← Previous Event 2005 Rallye de France – Tour de Corse (France)
Back to Events Index
2005 Rally Catalunya (Spain) Next Event →

Watch rallies anywhere — bypass region blocks with NordVPN.

Fast servers for HD streams Servers in 60+ countries 30-day money-back

Unblock coverage — Save up to 77% + 3 months free

Sponsored link. Using our partner links helps support Compromised Internals at no extra cost to you.