History 2000s

2008 Rally Catalunya (Spain)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2008 Rally Catalunya (Spain)

Date: October 3–5, 2008

Start Location: Salou, Spain

Finish Location: Salou, Spain

Total Distance: ~1,302.00 km

Competitive Stages: 352.87 km

Surface: Asphalt (smooth, high-grip)

The Rally Catalunya is known for its race track-like asphalt stages, rewarding precise driving and smooth cornering. In 2008, Sébastien Loeb delivered another asphalt masterclass, keeping a flawless pace to secure a comfortable victory and solidify his path toward the championship.

Route

La Mussara: Long, technical, and filled with elevation changes — required maximum commitment on braking and turn-in.
El Priorat: Famous for its sweeping bends through wine country — punished over-aggression with tire wear.
Riudecanyes: Featured the rally’s signature roundabout section — a fan favorite and a test of tight corner control.

Catalunya’s stages are wide, fast, and flowing, demanding precision and rhythm. Key tests included:

The smooth, grippy tarmac allowed for near-circuit racing speeds, with tire preservation becoming critical in the later loops.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Sébastien Loeb & Daniel Elena · Citroën C4 WRC
2nd Place
Dani Sordo & Marc Martí · Citroën C4 WRC
3rd Place
Mikko Hirvonen & Jarmo Lehtinen · Ford Focus RS WRC 07

Loeb led from start to finish, with teammate Sordo ensuring a Citroën 1–2. Hirvonen managed to stay close but lacked the outright pace on tarmac to challenge for the win.

Navigation & Challenges

  • High-Speed Cornering: Required perfect pacenotes and braking points to carry maximum speed.
  • Tire Management: Overdriving early could ruin grip in the final stages of each loop.
  • Consistency: Loeb’s ability to produce near-identical stage times kept his rivals at bay.

The 2008 Rally Catalunya cemented Loeb’s reputation as the undisputed asphalt king, with a calculated and dominant performance that left his rivals fighting only for the remaining podium places.

← Previous Event 2008 Rally New Zealand (New Zealand)
Back to Events Index
2008 Tour de Corse – Rallye de France (France) 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.