History 2000s

2005 Rally Argentina (Argentina)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2005 Rally Argentina (Argentina)

Date: July 15–17, 2005

Start Location: Villa Carlos Paz, Argentina

Finish Location: Villa Carlos Paz, Argentina

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

Competitive Stages: 348.84 km

Surface: Gravel (mixed – muddy, rocky, and technical)

Rally Argentina’s rough mountain terrain, unpredictable weather, and water crossings posed challenges that caught out many drivers — but Sébastien Loeb delivered another faultless performance. Despite rain and fog, he kept the Citroën Xsara WRC in perfect rhythm, navigating treacherous conditions with composed authority to take yet another win in his championship charge.

Route

El Condor–Copina: Narrow and shrouded in fog — required intense pacenote reliance and zero margin for error.
Giulio Cesare: Rocky and technical with frequent traction changes — a rally classic known for chaos and drama.
Piedras Blancas: Faster flowing but riddled with ruts — a favorite for pushing gaps in drying conditions.

Stages in the Córdoba region mixed high-speed crests with water crossings and muddy switchbacks. Key stages included:

Heavy rainfall in the days leading up to the rally created deep mud in some sections and caused several stages to deteriorate rapidly by second pass.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Sébastien Loeb & Daniel Elena · Citroën Xsara WRC
2nd Place
Petter Solberg & Phil Mills · Subaru Impreza WRC
3rd Place
François Duval & Sven Smeets · Citroën Xsara WRC

Loeb took the lead early and never looked back, building a gap on muddy Saturday stages that proved insurmountable. Solberg’s challenge faltered in the trickiest conditions, and Duval capitalized on his own clean run to secure Citroën a double podium.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Fog and Rain: Visibility was often near zero — co-driver rhythm and trust in notes was vital, especially in El Condor.
  • Water Crossings: Numerous rivers and splash zones tested electrical reliability and driver composure.
  • Mud and Grip Shifts: Sudden changes from dry to deep ruts caught many out — Loeb remained smooth and adaptive throughout.

Victory in Argentina further underscored Loeb’s mastery over every surface and condition — from frozen Sweden to rain-soaked Córdoba, the reigning champion proved virtually untouchable in 2005.

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