Finally the WRC circus returns to a solid footing. Rallye Deutschland marks the WRC’s first asphalt event of the current season since the Rallye Monte Carlo, staged no less than seven months ago. During the shakedown both Dani Sordo of the Prodrive WRC Team and Chris Atkinson, driving for the WRC Team MINI Portugal, proved they are in the running for points on the Rallye Deutschland, which starts at 10:48 local time (CEST) on Friday.

In the shakedown Dani powered his MINI John Cooper Works WRC Version 01B to seventh place. In the MINI WRC, newly built by Prodrive specifically for the asphalt event, Dani underscored his ambitions to once again run at the sharp end of the field. His target: A further podium place in Germany, following his third place overall scored on the 2011 edition. “Today the car was good, and I have a good feeling,” said Dani after the shakedown. “But what counts are the times in the vineyards on Friday.”

Fight for stage wins in the vineyards.

Traditionally the opening day of Rallye Deutschland sees the crews contesting stages in the vineyards above the Mosel, with the main aim being to be in a position to chase the fruits of success in the form of the drivers’ championship points awarded at the end of the event. Chris Atkinson, making his debut for the WRC Team MINI Portugal, appears hungry, and in top driving form. Atko, as the Australian is known amongst his many fans, posted the tenth-fastest time in the shakedown, professing to be satisfied with the performance of his new car, the MINI WRC.

Thus, with Atko’s team-mate Paulo Nobre also in good form, all three MINI WRC crews are fully prepared for Day 1 of Rallye Deutschland, with the first stage (Mittlemosel) being simultaneously the longest test of the opening day at 24,9 kilometres. The chase through Germany’s vine valleys may begin. As always, the latest information on the Rallye Deutschland is available at Facebook.com/MINImotorsport and Twitter.com/MINImotorsport.