2006 Rally Japan

2006 Rally Japan 3rd Rally Japan 11 16 2006 World Rally Championship 2006 Rally Finland 2006 Cyprus Rally File:Chris Atkinson - 2006 Rally Japan.jpg Chris Atkinson Obihiro 1 3 September 2006 27 345.72 Itinerary Rally Japan 2006 https://www.ewrc-results.com/timetable/11-rally-japan-2006/ 1,240.8 1,586.52 Gravel FRA Sébastien Loeb MON Daniel Elena BEL Kronos Citroën World Rally Team 3:22:20.4 87 87 78 The 2006 Rally Japan was a motor racing event for rally cars that was held over three days between 1 and 3 September 2006. It marked the 3rd running of the Rally Japan, and was the eleventh round of the 2006 World Rally Championship season.Shacki Season 2006 rally - eWRC-results https://www.ewrc-results.com/season/2006/1-wrc/ 2025-08-18 eWRC-results.com en The event was also the fifth round of the 2006 Production World Rally Championship. The 2006 event was based in the town of Kita Aikoku near Obihiro in Japan and was contested over twenty seven special stages, covering a total competitive distance of 345.72km (214.82 miles). Marcus Grönholm, along with BP Ford World Rally Team were the defending rally winners, trailing behind championship rival Sebastien Loeb by 31 points. Red Bull Škoda Team, as well as one of OMV Peugeot Norway's cars would miss the event. Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena won the rally, their first win since the 2006 Rallye Deutschland and their seventh of the season.Shacki Final results Rally Japan 2006 https://www.ewrc-results.com/final/11-rally-japan-2006/ 2025-08-18 eWRC-results.com en Background Entry list The following crews were set to enter the rally. The event was open to crews competing in the World Rally Championship and its support category, the Production World Rally Championship, as well as privateer entries that were not registered to score points in the manufacturer's championship. Eleven were entered under World Rally Car regulations, as were eleven in the Production WRC category.Shacki Entry list Cyprus Rally 2006 https://www.ewrc-results.com/entries/12-cyprus-rally-2006/ 2025-08-18 eWRC-results.com en +World Rally Car entries competing in the World Rally Championship No. Driver Co-Driver Entrant Car Tyre 1 FRA Sebastien Loeb MON Daniel Elena BEL Kronos Citroën World Rally Team Citroën Xsara WRC BF Goodrich 2 SPA Dani Sordo SPA Marc Martí BEL Kronos Citroën World Rally Team Citroën Xsara WRC BF Goodrich 3 FIN Marcus Gronholm FIN Timo Rautiainen GBR BP Ford World Rally Team Ford Focus RS WRC 06 BF Goodrich 4 FIN Mikko Hirvonen FIN Jarmo Lehtinen GBR BP Ford World Rally Team Ford Focus RS WRC 06 BF Goodrich 5 NOR Petter Solberg GBR Phil Mills JPN Subaru World Rally Team Impreza WRC 2006 Pirelli 6 AUS Chris Atkinson AUS Glenn Macneall JPN Subaru World Rally Team Impreza WRC 2006 Pirelli 7 AUT Manfred Stohl AUT Ilka Minor NOR OMV Peugeot Norway World Rally Team Peugeot 307 WRC BF Goodrich 9 GBR Matthew Wilson GBR Michael Orr GBR Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team Ford Focus RS WRC 06 BF Goodrich 10 ARG Luis Perez Companc ARG Jose Maria Volta GBR Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team Ford Focus RS WRC 06 BF Goodrich +Group N entries competing in the Production WRC No. Driver Co-Driver Entrant Car 32 ARG Marcos Ligato ARG Rubén García ARG Tango Rally Team Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 33 JPN Fumio Nutahara GBR Daniel Barritt JPN Advan-Piaa Rally Team Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 34 ARG Sebastián Beltran CHL Ricardo Rojas ARG Tango Rally Team Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 35 ARG Gabriel Pozzo ARG Daniel Stillo ARG Tango Rally Team Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 36 SMR Mirco Baldacci ITA Giovanni Agnese FRA Mitsubishi Paris West Team Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 37 FIN Jari-Matti Latvala FIN Miikka Anttila ITA Motoring Club Subaru Impreza WRX STI 38 POL Leszek Kuzaj POL Maciej Szczepaniak JPN Syms Rally Team Subaru Impreza WRX STI 40 ITA Stefano Marrini ITA Sandroni Tiziana ITA Errani Team Group Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 41 JPN Takuma Kamada FRA Denis Giraudet JPN Subaru Team Quasys Subaru Impreza WRX STI 42 SMR Loris Baldacci ITA Dario D'Esposito RUS Subaru Rally Team Russia Subaru Impreza WRX STI 45 FIN Aki Teiskonen FIN Miika Teiskonen JPN Syms Rally Team Subaru Impreza WRX STI +Other major entries No. Driver Co-Driver Entrant Car 12 IRE Gareth MacHale IRE Paul Nagle IRE Tom Hogan Motors Ford Focus RS WRC 14 JPN Toshihiro Arai NZL Tony Sircombe JPN Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza WRX STI Itinerary All dates and times are JST (UTC+9). Date No. Time span Stage name Distance 31 August — After 8:30 Obihiro SSS [Shakedown] 1.30 km 1 September SS1 After 8:03 Pawse Kamuy 1 9.05 km SS2 After 8:51 Rikubetsu 1 2.73 km SS3 After 9:27 Kanna 1 13.86 km SS4 After 9:50 Puray 1 34.96 km 15px 12:20 Service A, Obihiro SS5 After 14:23 Pawse Kamuy 2 9.05 km SS6 After 15:11 Rikubetsu 2 2.73 km SS7 After 15:47 Kanna 2 25.61 km SS8 After 16:10 Puray 2 34.96 km SS9 After 18:45 Obihiro 1 1.30 km SS10 After 18:55 Obihiro 2 1.30 km 15px 19:08 Service B, Obihiro 2 September 15px 6:00 Service C, Obihiro SS11 After 7:26 Emina 8.18 km SS12 After 8:28 Rikubetsu 3 2.73 km SS13 After 8:53 Niueo 1 20.75 km SS14 After 9:25 Sipirkakim 1 22.43 km SS15 After 10:35 Menan 16.25 km 15px 12:20 Service D, Obihiro SS16 After 14:48 Rikubetsu 4 2.73 km SS17 After 15:13 Niueo 2 20.75 km SS18 After 15:45 Sipirkakim 2 22.43 km SS19 After 16:55 Menan Short 9.17 km SS20 After 18:45 Obihiro 3 1.30 km SS21 After 18:55 Obihiro 4 1.30 km 15px 19:08 Service E, Obihiro 3 September 15px 6:00 Service F, Obihiro SS22 After 7:19 Rera Kamuy 8.76 km SS23 After 7:44 Panke Nikorpet 1 17.04 km SS24 After 8:20 Penke 1 24.88 km 15px 10:00 Service G, Obihiro SS25 After 11:43 Panke Nikorpet 2 17.04 km SS26 After 12:19 Penke 2 24.88 km SS27 After 14:09 Obihiro 5 1.30 km 15px 14:22 Service H, Obihiro Source:Shacki Itinerary Rally Japan 2006 https://www.ewrc-results.com/timetable/11-rally-japan-2006/ 2025-08-18 eWRC-results.com en Report Overall Summary Opening the road on Friday, Loeb would begin the rally struggling in comparison to his championship rival Gronholm. Despite being fastest on the end-of-day super special stages, Loeb would trail his rival by just over ten seconds at the end of the day. Mikko Hirvonen would find himself in a comfortable third, as Atkinson struggled with mechanical issues throughout the day, being awarded a fifty second time penalty after leaving the service area later than scheduled.Gronholm holds narrow lead https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/gronholm-holds-narrow-lead-4405933/4405933/ https://web.archive.org/web/20241008204711/https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/gronholm-holds-narrow-lead-4405933/4405933/ 2024-10-08 2025-08-18 en Saturday morning would be much tighter between the leading pair; Gronholm would begin the morning with two stage wins, extending his lead, only for Loeb to fight back in the next stage, undoing all of his progress. Stage 14 would be where Gronholm lost the lead after a spin cost him nearly twenty seconds.Gronholm spin hands lead to Loeb https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/gronholm-spin-hands-lead-to-loeb-4405942/4405942/ https://web.archive.org/web/20241008204852/https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/gronholm-spin-hands-lead-to-loeb-4405942/4405942/ 2024-10-08 2025-08-18 en The two would spend the rest of the day trading stage wins, and by the end of the second leg, Loeb would maintain a lead of over twenty seven seconds. Solberg would see various mechanical issues affect his Subaru, but in the afternoon he would close the gap back down to Sordo in front. Arai went off the road in stage 16, striking a photographer who suffered a leg injury from the accident. Arai would continue the rally with the blessing of the photographer, finishing the day in eighth.Loeb in charge after leg two https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/loeb-in-charge-after-leg-two-4405904/4405904/ https://web.archive.org/web/20241008204918/https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/loeb-in-charge-after-leg-two-4405904/4405904/ 2024-10-08 2025-08-18 en On Sunday, Gronholm did all that he could to catch Loeb, winning four of the day's six stages, and closing the gap down to fifteen seconds by the mid day break.Gronholm sets up final showdown https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/gronholm-sets-up-final-showdown-4405913/4405913/ https://web.archive.org/web/20241010084401/https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/gronholm-sets-up-final-showdown-4405913/4405913/ 2024-10-10 2025-08-18 en In the end, however, he simply would not have enough distance left to catch Loeb, who would cross the line victorious, leading by a much narrower 5.6 second lead. In winning the rally, Loeb beat the record for the most rallies won by a single driver in the World Rally Championship, previously held by Carlos Sainz.Loeb breaks record with narrow win https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/loeb-breaks-record-with-narrow-win-4405916/4405916/ https://web.archive.org/web/20241008204727/https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/loeb-breaks-record-with-narrow-win-4405916/4405916/ 2024-10-08 2025-08-18 en Companc would end the rally on the penultimate stage after crashing, while Sordo lost time negotiating the accident site, but was later excluded for not wearing seatbelts. MacHale would also end the rally early after striking a bridge in Stage 25.Loeb hanging on to tiny lead https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/loeb-hanging-on-to-tiny-lead-4405914/4405914/ https://web.archive.org/web/20241010073317/https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/loeb-hanging-on-to-tiny-lead-4405914/4405914/ 2024-10-10 2025-08-18 en Classification Position No. Car number Driver Co-driver Entrant Car Time Difference Time difference to class winner Points Event Class 1 1 1 FRA Sebastien Loeb MON Daniel Elena Kronos Racing Citroën Xsara WRC 3:22:20.4 0.0 10 2 2 3 FIN Marcus Grönholm FIN Timo Rautiainen BP Ford World Rally Team Ford Focus RS WRC 06 3:22:26.4 +5.6 8 3 3 4 FIN Mikko Hirvonen FIN Jarmo Lehtinen BP Ford World Rally Team Ford Focus RS WRC 06 3:25:06.9 +2:46.5 6 4 4 6 AUS Chris Atkinson AUS Glenn MacNeall Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza WRC 3:28:28.2 +6:07.8 5 5 5 7 AUT Manfred Stohl AUT Ilka Minor OMV Peugeot Norway World Rally Team Peugeot 307 WRC 3:29:31.1 +7:10.7 4 6 6 14 JPN Toshihiro Arai NZL Tony Sircombe Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza WRX STI 3:31:25.5 +9:05.1 3 7 7 5 NOR Petter Solberg GBR Phil Mills Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza WRC 3:34:04.1 +11:43.7 2 8 1 33 JPN Fumio Nutahara GBR Daniel Barritt Advan-Piaa Rally Team Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 4:56:11.9 +15:21.5 1 11 8 10 ARG Luis Perez Companc ARG Jose Maria Volta Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team Ford Focus RS WRC 06 4:58:05.4 +17:15.0 0 40 9 9 GBR Matthew Wilson GBR Michael Orr Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team Ford Focus RS WRC 06 5:06:11.4 +25:21.0 0 Retired SS27 2 ESP Dani Sordo ESP Marc Marti Kronos Citroën World Rally Team Citroën Xsara WRC Excluded 0 Retired SS27 12 IRE Gareth MacHale IRE Paul Nagle Tom Hogan Motors Ford Focus RS WRC Mechanical 0 Special Stages All dates and times are JST (UTC+9). DayStageTimeNameLength (km)WinnerTimeRally leader 1(1 Sep) SS1 08:03 Pawse Kamuy 1 9.50 FIN Marcus Grönholm 4:38.2 FIN Marcus Grönholm SS2 08:51 Rikubetsu 1 2.73 FIN Marcus Grönholm 2:12.1 SS3 09:27 Kanna 1 13.85 FRA Sébastien Loeb 8:06.3 SS4 09:50 Puray 1 34.95 FIN Marcus Grönholm 19:45.3 SS5 14:23 Pawse Kamuy 2 36.38 FIN Marcus Grönholm 4:32.9 SS6 15:11 Rikubetsu 2 2.73 FIN Marcus Grönholm 2:07.9 SS7 15:47 Kanna 2 13.85 FRA Sébastien Loeb 7:52.2 SS8 16:10 Puray 2 34.95 FIN Marcus Grönholm 19:06.7 SS9 18:45 Obihiro 1 1.29 FRA Sébastien Loeb 1:14.2 SS10 18:55 Obihiro 2 1.29 FRA Sébastien Loeb 1:15.0 2(2 Sep) SS11 07:26 Emina 8.18 FIN Marcus Grönholm 5:42.1 SS12 08:28 Rikubetsu 3 2.73 FIN Marcus Grönholm 2:07.4 SS13 08:53 Niueo 1 20.75 FRA Sébastien Loeb 12:10.6 SS14 09:25 Sipirkakim 1 22.43 FRA Sébastien Loeb 12:17.0 FRA Sébastien Loeb SS15 10:35 Menan 16.25 FRA Sébastien Loeb 10:17.3 SS16 14:48 Rikubetsu 4 2.73 FIN Marcus Grönholm 2:04.2 SS17 15:13 Niueo 2 20.75 FRA Sébastien Loeb 11:35.9 SS18 15:45 Sipirkakim 2 22.43 FIN Marcus Grönholm 12:09.0 SS19 16:55 Menan Short 9.17 FIN Marcus Grönholm 5:33.5 SS20 18:45 Obihiro 3 1.29 FRA Sébastien Loeb 1:13.1 SS21 18:55 Obihiro 4 1.29 FRA Sébastien Loeb 1:12.6 3(3 Sep) SS22 07:19 Rera Kamuy 8.76 FIN Marcus Grönholm 5:07.2 SS23 07:44 Panke Nikorpet 1 17.40 FRA Sébastien Loeb 9:36.8 SS24 08:20 Penke 1 24.87 FIN Marcus Grönholm 14:44.3 SS25 11:43 Panke Nikorpet 2 17.40 FIN Marcus Grönholm 9:13.4 SS26 12:19 Penke 2 24.87 FIN Marcus Grönholm 14:21.5 SS27 14:09 Obihiro 5 1.29 FIN Mikko Hirvonen 1:11.0 Championship Standings Pos. Position Drivers' Championship Manufacturers' ChampionshipMoveDriverPointsMoveManufacturerPoints 1 10px FRA Sébastien Loeb 102 10px BEL Kronos Citroën World Rally Team 132 2 10px FIN Marcus Gronholm 69 10px GBR BP Ford World Rally Team 121 3 10px ESP Dani Sordo 41 10px JPN Subaru World Rally Team 74 4 10px FIN Mikko Hirvonen 33 10px NOR OMV Peugeot Norway World Rally Team 50 5 10px AUT Manfred Stohl 28 10px GBR Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team 29 Production WRC Classification Position No. Car number Driver Co-driver Entrant Car Time Difference Time difference to class winner Points Event Class 8 1 33 JPN Fumio Nutahara GBR Daniel Barritt Advan-Piaa Rally Team Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 3:45:17.8 0.0 10 9 235 ARG Gabriel Pozzo ARG Daniel Stillo Tango Rally Team Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 3:45:45.2 +27.4 8 10 3 32 ARG Marcos Ligato ARG Rubén García Tango Rally Team Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 3:46:19.0 +1:01.2 6 13 4 45 FIN Aki Teiskonen FIN Miika Teiskonen Syms Rally Team Subaru Impreza WRX STI 3:49:20.4 +4:02.6 5 17 5 38 POL Leszek Kuzaj POL Maciej Szczepaniak Syms Rally Team Subaru Impreza WRX STI 3:56:37.7 +11:19.9 4 42 6 40 ITA Stefano Marrini ITA Sandroni Tiziana Errani Team Group Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 4:19:56.1 +34:38.3 3 46 7 36 SMR Mirco Baldacci ITA Giovanni Agnese Mitsubishi Paris West Team Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 4:24:14.7 +38:56.9 2 54 8 41 JPN Takuma Kamada FRA Denis Giraudet Subaru Team Quasys Subaru Impreza WRX STI 4:31:12.6 +45:54.8 1 69 9 37 FIN Jari-Matti Latvala FIN Miikka Anttila Motoring Club Subaru Impreza WRX STI 5:04:49.4 +1:19:31.6 0 75 10 34 ARG Sebastián Beltran CHL Ricardo Rojas Tango Rally Team Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 5:30:01.7 +1:44:43.9 0 Retired SS11 42 SMR Loris Baldacci ITA Dario D'Esposito Subaru Rally Team Russia Subaru Impreza WRX STI Accident 0 Championship Standings Pos. Position Drivers' Championship MoveDriverPoints 1 10px QAT Nasser Al-Attiyah 34 2 10px 3 JPN Fumio Nutahara 20 3 10px 1 SMR Mirco Baldacci 19 4 10px POL Leszek Kuzaj 17 5 10px 2 JPN Toshihiro Arai 15 References External links Results at eWRC.com Results at Jonkka's World Rally Archive Maps at Rally Maps 2006 Rally Japan 2006 Rally Finland 2006 Cyprus Rally 2005 Rally Japan 2007 Rally Japan Rally Japan, 2006 Japan Category:Rally Japan