2009 Rally Australia
# 2009 Rally Australia

The 2009 Repco Rally Australia was the 20th Rally Australia and the tenth round of the 2009 World Rally Championship season. The rally consisted of 35 special stages and was won on the road by Citroën's Sébastien Loeb. However, Loeb's win was short-lived as his Citroën along with those of his teammate Dani Sordo, and Sébastien Ogier were given one-minute time penalties for irregularities with their cars' anti-rollbars. Ford's Mikko Hirvonen inherited the win, for his fourth win in succession.

## Entries

The final entry list included 40 crews. 10 drivers contested in the World Rally Car class and 14 contested in the Production World Rally Championship class. This was the first time in the season that Petter Solberg and co-driver Phil Mills did not compete in their privately entered Citroën Xsara WRC since Rally Ireland.

## Protests

The event was disrupted by environmental activists protesting against the running of the rally, claiming that the event threatened local wildlife. One week before the rally, protesters unsuccessfully filed an injunction against the event in an effort to stop it. During the rally itself, signs were placed around the route of the rally, telling the drivers and those involved in the rally to go home. The CTEK East stages, scheduled to be held on 4 September as the sixth and eleventh stages of the rally, were cancelled after rocks were thrown at the course car and the stage itself was blocked when protesters pulled a fence across the road. Early reports also emerged claiming that protesters had taken animals killed on local roads and placed them along the rally route to give the appearance that wildlife had been killed by rally cars, though these reports were later denied. Following the cancellation of the CTEK East stages, New South Wales police announced that they would prosecute those responsible as public nuisances.

## Results

| Pos. | Driver | Co-driver | Car | Time | Penalty | Difference | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| WRC ||||||||
| 1 | Mikko Hirvonen | Jarmo Lehtinen | Ford Focus RS WRC 09 | 2:53:06.5 | | 0.0 | 10 |
| 2 | Sébastien Loeb | Daniel Elena | Citroën C4 WRC | 2:53:54.0 | 1:00 | +47.5 | 8 |
| 3 | Dani Sordo | Marc Martí | Citroën C4 WRC | 2:54:11.1 | 1:00 | +1:04.6 | 6 |
| 4 | Jari-Matti Latvala | Miikka Anttila | Ford Focus RS WRC 09 | 2:54:58.5 | | +1:52.0 | 5 |
| 5 | Sébastien Ogier | Julien Ingrassia | Citroën C4 WRC | 2:55:29.8 | 1:00 | +2:23.3 | 4 |
| 6 | Matthew Wilson | Scott Martin | Ford Focus RS WRC 08 | 2:58:32.8 | | +5:26.3 | 3 |
| 7 | Henning Solberg | Cato Menkerud | Ford Focus RS WRC 08 | 3:00:24.3 | 0:20 | +7:17.8 | 2 |
| 8 | Federico Villagra | Jorge Pérez Companc | Ford Focus RS WRC 08 | 3:00:45.9 | | +7:39.4 | 1 |
| PWRC and class N4 ||||||||
| 1 | Hayden Paddon | John Kennard | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX | 3:08:42.6 | | 0.0 | - |
| 2 | Martin Prokop | Jan Tománek | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX | 3:08:51.2 | | +8.6 | 10 |
| 3 | Richard Mason | Sara Mason | Subaru Impreza WRX STi | 3:09:33.4 | | +50.8 | 8 |
| 4 | Cody Crocker | Ben Atkinson | Subaru Impreza WRX STi | 3:10:26.5 | | +1:43.9 | 6 |
| 5 | Armindo Araújo | Miguel Ramalho | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX | 3:12:59.3 | | +4:16.7 | 5 |
| 6 | Stewart Taylor | Warwick Searle | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX | 3:14:30.3 | | +5:47.7 | 4 |
| 7 | John Gouasdoue | Scott Beckwith | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI | 3:60:41.8 | 7:20 | +21:59.2 | - |
| 8 | Stephen Tonna | Lorell Tonna | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V | 3:60:41.8 | 2:00 | +21:59.2 | - |
| 9 | Gianluca Linari | Massimo Salvucci | Subaru Impreza WRX STi | 3:38:52.8 | | +30:01.6 | 3 |

## Special stages

| Day | Stage | Time (AEST) | Name | Length | Winner | Time | Rally leader |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 (3-4 Sep) | SS1 | 18:53 | Tweed 1 | 2.55 km | Sébastien Ogier | 1:49.0 | Sébastien Ogier |
| 1 (3-4 Sep) | SS2 | 19:08 | Tweed 2 | 2.55 km | Sébastien Ogier | 1:46.1 | Sébastien Ogier |
| 1 (3-4 Sep) | SS3 | 7:38 | Kyogle 1 | 7.32 km | Jari-Matti Latvala | 4:05.5 | Sébastien Ogier |
| 1 (3-4 Sep) | SS4 | 8:36 | Repco 1 | 22.41 km | Mikko Hirvonen | 10:27.3 | Jari-Matti Latvala |
| 1 (3-4 Sep) | SS5 | 9:24 | Kyogle 2 | 7.32 km | Dani Sordo | 3:59.1 | Jari-Matti Latvala |
| 1 (3-4 Sep) | SS6 | 10:37 | CTEK East 1 | 11.33 km | stage cancelled | stage cancelled | | Jari-Matti Latvala |
| 1 (3-4 Sep) | SS7 | 11:40 | Mooball 1 | 5.85 km | Jari-Matti Latvala | 4:41.7 | Jari-Matti Latvala |
| 1 (3-4 Sep) | SS8 | 11:58 | Kidney Health 1 | 5.74 km | Jari-Matti Latvala | 4:29.4 | Jari-Matti Latvala |
| 1 (3-4 Sep) | SS9 | 12:16 | Castrol Edge 1 | 6.85 km | Sébastien Ogier | 4:38.9 | Jari-Matti Latvala |
| 1 (3-4 Sep) | SS10 | 14:03 | Castrol Edge East 2 | 6.85 km | Jari-Matti Latvala | 4:29.3 | Jari-Matti Latvala |
| 1 (3-4 Sep) | SS11 | 15:03 | CTEK East 2 | 11.33 km | stage cancelled | stage cancelled | | Jari-Matti Latvala |
| 1 (3-4 Sep) | SS12 | 16:06 | Mooball 2 | 5.85 km | Jari-Matti Latvala | 4:36.7 | Jari-Matti Latvala |
| 1 (3-4 Sep) | SS13 | 16:24 | Kidney Health 2 | 5.74 km | Jari-Matti Latvala | 4:26.0 | Jari-Matti Latvala |
| 1 (3-4 Sep) | SS14 | 18:30 | Tweed 3 | 2.55 km | Sébastien Ogier | 1:48.1 | Jari-Matti Latvala |
| 1 (3-4 Sep) | SS15 | 18:45 | Tweed 4 | 2.55 km | Sébastien Ogier | 1:46.8 | Jari-Matti Latvala |
| 2 (5 Sep) | SS16 | 7:28 | Dayco 1 | 20.31 km | Mikko Hirvonen | 9:45.1 | Jari-Matti Latvala |
| 2 (5 Sep) | SS17 | 8:13 | Bosch 1 | 18.75 km | Sébastien Loeb | 9:26.3 | Jari-Matti Latvala |
| 2 (5 Sep) | SS18 | 9:04 | Armor All 1 | 8.2 km | Sébastien Loeb | 3:47.2 | Jari-Matti Latvala |
| 2 (5 Sep) | SS19 | 10:42 | Urliup | 5.24 km | Mikko Hirvonen | 4:25.7 | Jari-Matti Latvala |
| 2 (5 Sep) | SS20 | 13:55 | Armor All 2 | 8.2 km | Sébastien Loeb | 3:42.8 | Jari-Matti Latvala |
| 2 (5 Sep) | SS21 | 14:34 | CTEK West 1 | 8.59 km | Sébastien Loeb | 4:28.3 | Sébastien Loeb |
| 2 (5 Sep) | SS22 | 15:27 | Dayco 2 | 20.31 km | Sébastien Loeb | 9:38.3 | Sébastien Loeb |
| 2 (5 Sep) | SS23 | 16:12 | Bosch 2 | 18.75 km | Dani Sordo | 9:30.6 | Mikko Hirvonen |
| 2 (5 Sep) | SS24 | 19:15 | Tweed 5 | 2.55 km | Sébastien Ogier | 1:47.4 | Mikko Hirvonen |
| 2 (5 Sep) | SS25 | 19:30 | Tweed 6 | 2.55 km | Sébastien Ogier | 1:46.2 | Dani Sordo |
| 3 (6 Sep) | SS26 | 7:14 | Monroe 1 | 7.4 km | Sébastien Loeb | 3:25.8 | Sébastien Loeb |
| 3 (6 Sep) | SS27 | 7:36 | Castrol Edge West 1 | 21.52 km | Dani Sordo | 10:01.9 | Sébastien Loeb |
| 3 (6 Sep) | SS28 | 8:37 | Gondwana 1 | 10.88 km | Mikko Hirvonen | 6:19.0 | Sébastien Loeb |
| 3 (6 Sep) | SS29 | 8:56 | Upper Clarence 1 | 6.94 km | Jari-Matti Latvala | 3:14.6 | Sébastien Loeb |
| 3 (6 Sep) | SS30 | 9:40 | CTEK West 2 | 8.59 km | Sébastien Loeb | 4:27.5 | Sébastien Loeb |
| 3 (6 Sep) | SS31 | 11:03 | Monroe 2 | 7.4 km | Sébastien Loeb | 3:21.1 | Sébastien Loeb |
| 3 (6 Sep) | SS32 | 11:25 | Castrol Edge West 2 | 21.52 km | Dani Sordo | 9:46.9 | Sébastien Loeb |
| 3 (6 Sep) | SS33 | 12:26 | Gondwana 2 | 10.88 km | Sébastien Loeb | 6:09.1 | Sébastien Loeb |
| 3 (6 Sep) | SS34 | 12:45 | Upper Clarence 2 | 6.94 km | Jari-Matti Latvala Sébastien Ogier | 3:12.2 | Sébastien Loeb |
| 3 (6 Sep) | SS35 | 13:27 | Repco 2 | 22.41 km | Mikko Hirvonen | 10:14.4 | Mikko Hirvonen |

## Championship standings after the event

### Drivers' championship

| Pos | Driver | IRL | NOR | CYP | POR | ARG | ITA | GRC | POL | FIN | AUS | ESP | GBR | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Mikko Hirvonen | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | Ret | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | 78 |
| 2 | Sébastien Loeb | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | Ret | 7 | 2 | 2 | | | 73 |
| 3 | Dani Sordo | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 23 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 3 | | | 50 |
| 4 | Jari-Matti Latvala | 14 | 3 | 12 | Ret | 6 | 1 | 3 | Ret | 3 | 4 | | | 36 |
| 5 | Henning Solberg | 4 | 4 | 18 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 15 | 3 | 30 | 7 | | | 29 |
| 6 | Petter Solberg | | 6 | 3 | 4 | Ret | 3 | Ret | 4 | Ret | | | | 25 |
| 7 | Matthew Wilson | 7 | 7 | 5 | Ret | 5 | 6 | 14 | 5 | 8 | 6 | | | 23 |
| 8 | Sébastien Ogier | 6 | 10 | Ret | 17 | 7 | Ret | 2 | Ret | 6 | 5 | | | 20 |
| 9 | Federico Villagra | | | 7 | 7 | 4 | Ret | 4 | | 11 | 8 | | | 15 |
| 10 | Conrad Rautenbach | 18 | Ret | 6 | Ret | Ret | 9 | 5 | 8 | Ret | Ret | | | 8 |
| 11 | Mads Østberg | | 9 | | 6 | | 7 | 7 | Ret | Ret | | | | 7 |
| 12 | Khalid al-Qassimi | 8 | | 8 | 8 | | 16 | 6 | | 9 | 19 | | | 6 |
| 13 | Evgeny Novikov | | 12 | Ret | Ret | | 5 | 16 | 9 | Ret | | | | 4 |
| 14 | Chris Atkinson | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 |
| 15 | Matti Rantanen | | | | | | | | | 5 | | | | 4 |
| 16 | Krzysztof Hołowczyc | | | | | | | | 6 | | | | | 3 |
| 17 | Jari Ketomaa | | | | | | | | | 7 | | | | 2 |
| 18 | Nasser Al-Attiyah | | | 11 | 16 | 8 | 10 | EX | | | | | | 1 |
| 19 | Urmo Aava | 10 | 8 | | | | | | | 29 | | | | 1 |
| 20 | Lambros Athanassoulas | | | | | | | 8 | | | | | | 1 |
| Pos | Driver | IRL | NOR | CYP | POR | ARG | ITA | GRC | POL | FIN | AUS | ESP | GBR | Pts |

Key :

| Colour | Result |
| - | - |
| Gold | Winner |
| Silver | 2nd place |
| Bronze | 3rd place |
| Green | Points finish |
| Blue | Non-points finish |
| Blue | Non-classified finish (NC) |
| Purple | Did not finish (Ret) |
| Black | Excluded (EX) |
| Black | Disqualified (DSQ) |
| White | Did not start (DNS) |
| White | Cancelled (C) |
| Blank | Withdrew entry from the event (WD) |

### Manufacturers' championship

| Pos | Team | Event | Event | Event | Event | Event | Event | Event | Event | Event | Event | Event | Event | Total points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Pos | Team | IRL | NOR | CYP | POR | ARG | ITA | GRC | POL | FIN | AUS | ESP | GBR | Total points |
| 1 | Citroën Total World Rally Team | 18 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 13 | 14 | | | 133 |
| 2 | BP Ford World Rally Team | 8 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 18 | 18 | 10 | 16 | 15 | | | 120 |
| 3 | Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team | 8 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 5 | | | 69 |
| 4 | Citroën Junior Team | 5 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | | | 37 |
| 5 | Munchi's Ford World Rally Team | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 | | | 21 |
