History 2000s

2009 Rally GB (Great Britain)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2009 Rally GB (Great Britain)

Date: October 23–25, 2009

Start Location: Cardiff, Wales

Finish Location: Cardiff, Wales

Total Distance: ~1,504.30 km

Competitive Stages: 348.32 km

Surface: Gravel (wet, muddy, slippery)

The 2009 Rally GB was a championship decider, with Sébastien Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen separated by just one point heading into the final round. Wales served up its usual muddy and treacherous stages, turning the event into a battle of skill and nerve. Loeb delivered under pressure, edging Hirvonen in a weekend-long duel to secure his sixth consecutive WRC title.

Route

Hafren: A long and challenging stage with changing grip levels and hidden hazards under the leaves.
Sweet Lamb: Iconic for its water splash and open moorland sections, demanding perfect visibility and precision.
Rhondda: Narrow, twisty gravel through dense forest, punishing even the smallest mistakes.

The rally featured classic Welsh gravel tests with fast forest sections, fog, and deep mud. Key stages included:

Rainfall before and during the rally created a slick surface that tested traction and driver patience.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Sébastien Loeb & Daniel Elena · Citroën C4 WRC
2nd Place
Mikko Hirvonen & Jarmo Lehtinen · Ford Focus RS WRC 09
3rd Place
Petter Solberg & Phil Mills · Citroën C4 WRC

The duel between Loeb and Hirvonen was intense from start to finish. Hirvonen lost valuable seconds on Day 2 after bonnet latch issues, and Loeb maintained his advantage to the end, sealing the title.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Low Visibility: Fog and mist in the forest stages made pace note accuracy vital.
  • Mud and Grip Changes: Constant adaptation was required for braking and cornering lines.
  • Championship Pressure: Both Loeb and Hirvonen were driving at the limit, knowing the title hinged on every second.

Loeb’s victory in Wales secured his place in rally history, becoming the first driver to win six WRC titles in a row and capping off one of the most dramatic seasons in modern rallying.

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