SS20 0700hrs Flynns 2 (20.10km)
Setting out to claim a sixth annual WRC win, and share the record held by rally legend Didier Auriol, Sebastien Loeb was fastest on the first stage of the day. Re-starters Marcus Gronholm and Petter Solberg were second and third quickest respectively, while Rovanpera was fourth. As temperatures began to rise in the early morning, conditions in the stage were dry and featured a mix of loose red gravel, sections of exposed bedrock and forest roads littered with pine needles. Running first on the road, Ford privateer Anthony Warmbold struggled with a turbo problem and completed the test at a reduced pace with his hazard-lights on. He dropped eight minutes to the leaders and tumbled down the overall standings from fifth to fourteenth. Once the stage was complete, crews moved to the start of SS21.
Fastest Time: Loeb (Citroen) 11:37.5

SS21 0733hrs Helena East 2 (22.29km)
Including a series of hidden crests, deceptive corners and fifth-gear jumps, the last ten kilometres of the 22km narrow, undulating test from Helena West was one of the most difficult sections of the event. Loeb was fastest through the stage, with Solberg second and Gronholm, who overshot a junction, third. Subaru’s young Mikko Hirvonen was fourth fastest, ahead of Duval and Rovanpera, to maintain the same position overall. With no service scheduled between the two opening stages, Warmbold continued to lose time with his Focus’ broken turbo and, by the finish, had lost another two places overall. Once the test was complete, crews returned to Perth for a 20-minute service.
Fastest Time: Loeb (Citroen) 12:48.5

Driver Quotes - Service H – After SS21

Mikko Hirvonen:

It’s not bad and actually quite enjoyable out on the stages. There is a clean line and the car’s working well. We’re not pushing stupidly fast, but the package seems to have come together. We’ll make a few changes to the differentials in service, but apart from that, I’m happy with things.

Petter Solberg:

I think for that group (SS20 &SS21), the tyre we chose was a bit too soft, but there were no big problems. Mechanically things were fine, although we had quite a lot of dust coming into the car, so it was a bit uncomfortable. The stages this afternoon are some of my favourites and I’m going to be out to beat Sebastien on every one of them, it should be a good show!

SS22 1101hrs Bannister North Short (13.86km)
After a 105km road section from Perth, the remaining crews embarked on the first of four stages contested in the famous Sotico tree plantations. The first, the 13km stage from North Bannister, included 15 junctions and concluded with the stomach-churning Bunnings jumps and water splash. Having stopped in the preceding road section to make suspension adjustments, Solberg took the stage win while Gronholm, who was using the opportunity to test his car’s braking system, was second fastest. Event leader Loeb was fifth fastest while Hirvonen, who was running second on the road, struggled to find enough traction on the loose, pebbly surface and was sixth. Privateer Warmbold continued to run off the pace and dropped another two minutes to the leaders, while Subaru Group N competitor Alistair McRae retired 3km from the start with a gearbox problem. He had been on course to take the FIA Production Cup title. Once the stage was complete, crews drove a short 0.32km section to the start of SS23.
Fastest Time: Solberg (Subaru) 7:15.7

SS23 1129hrs Bannister Central 1 (17.97km)
Starting with a flat-out sixth-gear straight, the loose gravel stage from Bannister concluded with a 3km twisty section. Thousands of fans had turned out in the warm Australian sunshine to watch their favourite drivers charge through the test and churn up clouds of red dust as they reached speeds of up to 200kph. Setting an average speed of 115.46 kph, Solberg was fastest for another stage win, while Gronholm was second and Rovanpera third. Hirvonen once again found himself sweeping the loose gravel for those following and was fifth fastest. After the finish, crews stopped for a 10-minute remote tyre-fitting service in Sotico.
Fastest Time: Solberg (Subaru) 9:20.3

Driver Quotes - Service T3 – After SS23

Mikko Hirvonen:

It’s unbelievable out there, extremely slippery – there’s really no line for me to follow in the gravel. It was good to see such a big crowd at the Bunnings jumps – it really was good fun to drive through that section.

Petter Solberg:

We stopped on the road section before SS22 to make a couple of suspension adjustments, but as the rally is now just about testing for me, it was important to get it right. The tyres were a bit too soft for these conditions, but they are all we’ve got left now. It’s great to be back at Bunnings, the jumps are always good, but you’ve got to set the car up so very precisely.

SS24 1242hrs Bannister North Long (35.64km)
There were nervous moments for the Peugeot team on the penultimate stage when Marcus Gronholm rolled his Peugeot 307 off the road and out of the rally. Leaving the stage five kilometres from the start, the Finn’s car was launched into the air and eventually came to rest on its roof against a tree. Although Marcus and co-driver Timo Rautiainen were able to get out of the car unaided, they were taken to hospital for precautionary checks. Looking to the pacesetters, Solberg was fastest, with event-leader Loeb second-quickest, Rovanpera was third and Hirvonen fourth. A very fast, open stage, the last kilometre was shared with SS22, meaning crews once again faced the famous Bunnings jumps and water splash before the finish.
Fastest Time: Solberg (Subaru) 18:39.6

SS25 1330hrs Bannister Central 2 (17.97km)
Petter Solberg ended the 2004 WRC season with a victory on the last special stage of the year to take his season total to 95, 25 more than Marcus Gronholm with the second highest number. Citroen’s Sebastien Loeb was second on the stage to take the overall event win and claim his sixth 2004 WRC victory - equalling Didier Auriol’s 1992 achievement. Rovanpera was third fastest to take overall second place, while Duval was fifth fastest to secure the final podium position. After a solid performance aboard his Subaru Impreza WRC2004, Mikko Hirvonen was fourth quickest and matched his WRC career-best finish of fourth overall.
Fastest Time: Solberg (Subaru) 9:12.7