Peugeot Claims Maximum Points in Corsica

23 October, 2001

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Peugeot 206 WRC drivers Gilles Panizzi and Didier Auriol have secured a maximum points haul for the French manufacturer in the 12th round of the FIA World Rally Championship, the Tour de Corse.

The pair maintained their second and third positions during today's four stages and with rally winner Jesus Puras not registered for the manufacturers' championship, Peugeot thus bagged 16 points - the maximum possible tally - for the third time this season. The score moves Peugeot into second in the makes' series, just seven points off the lead.

Typically fickle Corsican weather kept the world's best rally drivers on edge to the final corner today, with heavy showers leaving standing water on much of the final pair of stages. Panizzi started well, taking six seconds out of Puras's advantage on the opening test. But as the conditions worsened, Gilles elected to make certain of Peugeot's score and with his team-mate Auriol more than half a minute behind, he was able to ease off and finish second. Auriol duly claimed third, while another of Peugeot's regular drivers, Harri Rovanperä, finished in an excellent seventh in a privately-run 206 WRC after an experience-building exercise.

Gilles said: "There was no point in pushing to catch Puras this afternoon. The conditions were very bad in some places - very unpredictable - and it would have been stupid of me to put the car in the trees when we were in such a good position for Peugeot. Of course I would have liked to have won, but it's good that Peugeot has taken the maximum points from this rally and that none of our cars had any serious technical problems either. We've been reliable and fast and that will give the team confidence for the remaining rallies."

Didier said: "Today has been all about making sure of a maximum score for Peugeot. When I lost time with a heavy rain shower yesterday I lost touch with Gilles and Jesus. If I hadn't had that problem I'm sure I could have fought with Gilles for second but like him, I'd have had to take care this afternoon because of the importance of the manufacturers' championship. Overall I'm quite pleased with my performance here and it's good that we've improved Peugeot's position."

Peugeot Sport team principal Corrado Provera said: "We have achieved our objective over these two asphalt rallies - Corsica and Sanremo - of taking the maximum scores possible in the manufacturers' championship. We have a very good feeling now and the 16 points we take from here will give us even more motivation and determination for Australia and Great Britain. The championship is now wide open and we are looking forward to the fight."

The FIA World Rally Championship heads south again for its next event, the Telstra Rally Australia on November 1-4. The notoriously slippery forest tracks will place traction and road position at a premium but since the 206 and Marcus Grönholm were victorious Down Under last year, the Total Peugeot team has high hopes that it can move ever closer to a second consecutive manufacturers' crown.

CLASSIFICATIONS:

1- PURAS, Jesus Citroën Xsara WRC 3h58.35.5

2- PANIZZI, Gilles Peugeot 206 WRC 3h58.53.0

3- AURIOL, Didier Peugeot 206 WRC 3h59.47.4

4- BURNS, Richard Subaru Impreza 4h03.28.6

5- SOLBERG, Petter Subaru Impreza 4h03.29.4

6- MARTIN, Markko Subaru Impreza 4h03.57.1

7- ROVANPERÄ, Harri Peugeot 206 WRC 4h06.02.4

8- LIATTI, Piero Hyundai Accent 4h06.44.7

9 -McRAE, Alister Hyundai Accent 4h07.28.2

10- DELECOUR, François Ford Focus WRC 4h08.41.6

World Championship 2001

Drivers:

1. Tommi Makinen 40

2. Colin McRae 40

3. Richard Burns 34

4. Carlos Sainz 33

5. Harri Rovanperä 27

6. Gilles Panizzi 22

7. Didier Auriol 19

8. Marcus Grönholm 16

9. François Delecour 15

10. Petter Solberg 11

11. Jesus Puras 10

12. Freddy Loix 9