History 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 pacenotes 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.

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.

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