SS10 0946hrs Beraking 2 (23.03km)
Having led the event from the outset, the repeated sun-drenched test from Beraking was to be the last of 2004 for Peugeot’s Marcus Gronholm. After a determined effort in Leg one that saw him build an overnight advantage of 21.4 seconds, the Finn slid his 307 into a rut on a left-hand corner 3km from the start and spun 360-degrees, hitting the front and back of his car on a tree. Unable to re-start his engine as a result of damage sustained in the incident, he and co-driver Timo Rautiainen retired, which promoted Citroen’s Sebastien Loeb to the overall lead. Shaving 22.6 seconds off the previous winning time through the stage, the Frenchman was quickest, with Harri Rovanpera second fastest and Francois Duval third. Mikko Hirvonen was fifth fastest and moved up to fourth position overall. After the finish, crews drove 14km north to the start of SS11.
Fastest Time: Loeb (Citroen) 12:40.9

SS11 1029hrs Helena East 1 (22.29km)
Including a flat out sixth-gear section near the start, the last 10km of the Helena West stage was narrow and technical, with deceptive corners, hidden crests and fifth-gear jumps. Having re-joined the event as permitted under the FIA re-start system, Petter Solberg was fastest over the 22.29km to take the win, with Loeb second and Francois Duval third. As the sun continued to shine, conditions in the stage were very dry and the loose, ball bearing-like gravel surface made the route slippery for drivers, especially if they strayed off the racing line. Despite the difficult conditions, there were no leading retirements and, after the finish, crews moved to the start of SS12.
Fastest Time: Solberg (Subaru) 13:17.2

SS12 1108hrs Atkins 1 (4.42km)
Apart from the Super Special, the sprint from Atkins is the shortest of the event but it attracts almost as many spectators. Beginning with a flat-out two-kilometre section, the stage then takes crews into a purpose built spectator area, with grandstand seating near a complex of tricky hairpin bends. Petter Solberg was fastest through the test, with Duval second and Rovanpera third. Hirvonen was fifth quickest. Once the stage was complete, crews stopped for a 10-minute tyre-fitting service near the town of Mundaring.
Fastest Time: Solberg (Subaru) 3:03.1

Driver Quotes - Service T2 – After SS12

Mikko Hirvonen:

The stages were completely dry and it was a very loose surface, especially on the second one (SS11). I still think there are some changes I can make to the car to improve it. We’re using the same type of tyres for the next group of stages, but we’ve altered the bump-stop setting at the front.

Petter Solberg:

On SS10 I slowed down to first gear to pass Marcus’ accident and lost a bit of time there, but apart from that they’ve been good runs. There was quite a lot of dust in the car, which made it a bit uncomfortable for Phil, but mechanically things have been fine. We‘ve gone for some slightly harder tyres for the next group of stages and have raised the ride-height a little. It’s a good opportunity to do some testing.

SS13 1143hrs Helena West 1 (15.44km)
Setting an average speed of 104.44kph, Petter Solberg took his third consecutive win on the first pass through the Helena West stage. Loeb was second fastest to maintain his overall lead by more than a minute, while Rovanpera was third and Duval fourth. Running second on the road for Leg two, Hirvonen reported the conditions extremely slippery as he encountered more loose gravel than most. He set the fifth-fastest time, 21.2 seconds off the winning pace.
Fastest Time: Solberg (Subaru) 8:52.2

SS14 1211hrs Helena South 2 (17.31km)
Including a mixture of long straights and crowd-pleasing jumps, the Helena South test saw WRC cars power through the stage at speeds of up to 200kph. Previously used as SS7 in Leg one, the stage’s hard base had already been swept of loose gravel, meaning front-runners Ford Privateer Anthony Warmbold and Subaru’s Hirvonen could find more grip than they had on the previous test. Citroen’s Sebastien Loeb was fastest, with Solberg second and Rovanpera third. Hirvonen was fourth fastest though the test, ahead of Francois Duval who overshot a junction 3km after the start. Once the stage was complete, crews returned to Perth for a 20-minute service.
Fastest Time: Loeb (Citroen) 8:59.0

Driver Quotes - Service E – After SS14

Mikko Hirvonen:

Not bad, but being the second car through the stages isn’t great. The ones that are being used for the first time are very slippery. There’s lots of loose gravel and for sure it would be better to be further back as the roads are cleaning a lot. I’m still not completely happy with the set-up of the car, especially at high speed and it’s not giving me the confidence that I need. However, the gaps between me and the car in front and behind are so big that I’m not under too much pressure and can keep working on testing different set-ups.

Petter Solberg:

There are a couple of stages that we weren’t able to do yesterday so we lost a couple of seconds on those, but we won the new ones. When you’re out of the fight and the pressure’s off, it’s difficult to push that last little bit. We’re out there now to experiment with the set-up a bit and have a little fun, it’s not quite a Sunday drive though.

SS15 1534hrs Flynns 1 (20.10km)
Providing one of the few surfaces changes of the rally, the 20km test from Flynns included sections of exposed bedrock and forest roads littered with pine needles. Despite holding a one-minute lead, Sebastien Loeb reported that he found it easier to concentrate if he continued to attack on the stages, on this occasion he was fastest, and took his third victory of the day. Solberg was second fastest and Rovanpera third. Hirvonen was fifth fastest. There was no change to the overall positions of the WRC drivers and, once the test was complete, crews moved directly to the start of SS16.
Fastest Time: Loeb (Citroen) 11:59.8

SS16 1613hrs Helena West 2 (15.44km)
As Loeb and Solberg continued to trade stage wins, this time it was Petter who was fastest in his Subaru Impreza WRC2004 to take his fourth of the day. Loeb was second fastest, to retain the overall lead and Rovanpera was third. Hirvonen was fourth fastest, ahead of the Focus of Duval in fifth. After the finish, crews drove a 15km road section to the start of SS17.
Fastest Time: Solberg (Subaru) 8:37.0

SS17 1648hrs Atkins 2 (4.42km)
Less than five seconds separated the top-five times on the second pass through the spectator-pleasing Atkins stage. Solberg was quickest, with Loeb second and Duval third. Hirvonen was just 0.2 seconds slower than the Belgian to take the fourth-best time. With conditions remaining sunny and warm, hundreds of spectators had remained in the purpose-built spectator areas to catch another glimpse of their favourite rally drivers in action. Once crews had completed the stage, they returned to Perth for a 45-minute service.
Fastest Time: Solberg (Subaru) 2:59.5

SS18 1945hrs Perth City Super 4 (2.35km)
SS19 1954hrs Perth City Super 5 (2.35km)
Leg two concluded with a final visit to the floodlit Super Special in Perth, where thousands of spectators and more head-to-head racing created an electrifying atmosphere. Completing the abrasive figure of eight course fastest on both attempts, Rovanpera claimed both stage wins and ended the day in overnight second. Loeb took a fourth and fifth fastest time to retain an overnight lead of 1 minute 20.5 seconds, while Duval was third and second fastest to hold overnight third. Ever the showman, and with the competitive pressure off, Petter Solberg thrilled the crowds with an exuberant display, drifting his Subaru sideways around the track and launching it high into the air over the flyover.
Fastest Time: Rovanpera (Peugeot) 1:33.1
Fastest Time: Rovanpera (Peugeot) 1:33.2