Peugeot Scores Win in Finland

27 August, 2001

Image Gallery

Jyvaskyla – Peugeot 206 WRC driver Marcus Gr�nholm has won the ninth round of the FIA World Rally Championship, the Rally Finland, which ended yesterday. Gr�nholm and navigator Timo Rautiainen repeated their success of 12 months ago to set the champagne flowing on the finish ramp in the centre of host town Jyvaskyla.

Gr�nholm and team-mate Harri Rovanper� started the final day’s three longer stages in the top two positions. The pair was asked to bring their cars to the finish to score the maximum possible points haul for Peugeot in the manufacturers’ championship and despite a late problem for Rovanper�, they did well enough to lift the French marque to third in the series.

Gr�nholm was predictably delighted with his first victory of the 2001 season.

“It's been a great event for me,” he said. “The car has been perfectly behaved and we've only really had to worry about rocks and heavy landings to make sure we didn't damage suspension or get a puncture.

“Harri has driven very well and between us, we've helped Peugeot a lot in the manufacturers' championship. This rally is still one where experience really makes a difference but the whole package has worked well. It's New Zealand next and I won there last year so hopefully this can be the start of a good run for me towards the end of the year.”

Rovanper� had an early scare on the final morning when he clipped a rock and broke a valve in his tyre. The resulting time loss put him under pressure from Richard Burns and when Harri hit damper problems on the last stage, he had to back off to ensure that he still scored some points. He eventually finished fourth, bagging three points for Peugeot.

“Of course it would have been nice to fight with Marcus but I know I was taking some risks and we have to remember that points for Peugeot was the main target here,” he said.

“I saw some oil coming from the damper on the stage before the end and I spun once. I knew that I'd have to take it easier in the last test to make sure I made the finish and Colin (McRae) just got past me by a couple of seconds. It just means I'll be even more determined for next year!”

Peugeot Total Team Principal Corrado Provera said, “We are delighted for Marcus and so sorry for Harri, who had late problems.

“Between the last rally (Safari) and this one, we have taken 19 points. Last year, from the same two events, we took 12. The efficiency and performance of the car here gives us confidence and even more enthusiasm for New Zealand. Peugeot is back!”

The FIA World Championship now takes one of its longer breaks before the crews tackle the gravel roads of Rally New Zealand on September 20-23.

GRONHOLM ROVANPERA AURIOL

SS1: 2 SS10: 1 SS19: 3 SS1: 1 SS10: 2 SS19:5 SS1: 4 SS10: 8

SS2: 1 SS11: 4 SS20: 6 SS2: 2 SS11: 1 SS20:1 SS2: 9 SS11: 9

SS3: 1 SS12: 4 SS21: 3 SS3: 2 SS12: 2 SS21: 13 SS3: 7 SS12: 10

SS4: 2 SS13: 3 SS4: 4 SS13: 1 SS4: 5 SS13: Ab

SS5: 1 SS14: 5 SS5: 4 SS14: 2 SS5: 5 -

SS6:1 SS15: 2 SS6: 5 SS15: 1 SS6: 2 -

SS7: 5 SS16: 2 SS7: 6 SS16: 1 SS7: 7 -

SS8: 17 SS17: 2 SS8: 28 SS17: 5 SS8: 3 -

SS9: 7 SS18: 1 SS9: 32 SS18: 7 SS9: 4 -

GRÖNHOLM, Marcus Peugeot 206 WRC 3h 23'12.8

BURNS, Richard Subaru Impreza 3h23'37.8

McRAE, Colin Ford Focus WRC 3h23'45.1

ROVANPERÄ, Harri Peugeot 206 WRC 3h23'46.7

MARTIN, Markko Subaru Impreza 3h24'30.7

SAINZ, Carlos Ford Focus WRC 3h24'53.3

SOLBERG, Petter Subaru Impreza 3h25'52.4

LINDHOLM, Sebastian Peugeot 206 WRC 3h25'57.4

HAGSTRÖM, Pasi Toyota Corolla 3h28'14.0

LOIX, Freddy Mitsubishi Carisma 3h28'18.2

PANIZZI, Gilles Peugeot 206 WRC 3h30'41.9

World Championship 2001

Drivers:

1. Tommi Makinen 40

2. Colin McRae 34

3. Carlos Sainz 27

4. Harri Rovanperä 23

5. Richard Burns 21

6. Marcus Grönholm 14

6. François Delecour 14

8. Didier Auriol 10

9. Petter Solberg 9

9. Freddy Loix 9

11. Armin Schwarz 7

12. Gilles Panizzi 6