Vineyards, Porta Nigra and Panzerplatte – rally fans immediately think of the Rally Deutschland when they hear these terms. It has been a fixture on the FIA World Rally Championship calendar since 2002 and is held in the famous wine-growing region of the Mosel, to the east of the historic city of Trier, and St. Wendeler Land to the south.

The rally is predominantly held on asphalt, although the sealed surfaces change so often that the drivers are faced with a huge challenge every year. The narrow, winding roads through the vineyards and the infamous Baumholder military training area with its giant boulders, known as "Hinkelsteins", make the Rally Deutschland a true classic.

The service park and rally headquarters are based in Trier. One of the highlights towards the end of the Rally Deutschland is the superspecial "Circus Maximus" stage, which runs around the historic Porta Nigra in the centre of Trier. The Roman gate to the city also provides the backdrop for the presentation ceremony. Since 2002, one driver has monopolised the top step of the podium: Sébastien Loeb. The Frenchman has won every WRC rally held in Germany to date.