Petter Solberg won his third career rally (and second this season) today, beating Sebastien Loeb by nearly thirty seconds. Loeb held the lead overnight going into the last day of rallying, and Solberg and Loeb split the first two stages, exchanging the lead, but then the rains began to fall. Solberg retook the lead, but just barely, on the day’s third stage, then he capitalized on a bad tyre choice by Loeb on the last stage, and further extended his lead. Richard Burns took a comfortable third place, maintaining his lead in the championship, followed by Colin McRae, Carlos Sainz, and Tommi Makinen. Solberg now holds second place in the driver’s championship, tied with Carlos Sainz, and Loeb is only three points behind them in third place. It should be interesting end to the season, with Loeb obviously favored to do well in mad scramble of three tarmac rallies over the next month, setting up what could be a dramatic Rally Great Britain to end the season.

A few observations/remarks:
1. Both Skoda Fabias finished the rally, with Gardenmeister and Auriol taking 12th and 13th, and setting some top ten stage times. This is great news for the team, and should further boost the development of the new Fabia.
2. If it’s a rainy gravel rally, Pirellis are the tyres of choice. Only Subaru still uses the Italian tyres (every other team is shod with Michelins), and looking back over the past few years, when the going gets messy, Subaru has done well: two consecutive Rally GBs, this year’s Rally Australia, plus the messy win by Ford (using Pirellis) in the 2001 Rally Portugal).
3. Both Citroen and Subaru have to pleased with their WRC development. Up until this rally, the Focus was the car to beat, but it wasn’t fast enough to compensate for Markko Martin’s lack of experience. Both the Xsara and the Impreza were quite quick, taking all but a few stage wins. The Peugeot 206 doesn’t seem so untouchable anymore either.
4. An exciting month is coming up, with three tarmac rallies over the span of four weeks. Gilles Panizzi has been quiet so far this season, but expect to see his name in the headlines quite soon. Loeb could run away with the title if he runs well…he’s already proven to be a man to beat on the sealed surfaces…..

Posted on 7 September 2003