2003 Race of Champions explained

The 2003 Race of Champions took place on November 28–30 at Gran Canaria for the final time. It was also the last year for three-car teams in the Nations' Cup (including one motorcycle racer), with the focus on rally drivers fading after this year's event due to the later stadium-based venues using all-tarmac tracks.

The vehicles used were the Peugeot 206 WRC, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII Group N, the Subaru Impreza WRX and the ROC Buggy.

The individual competition was won by Sébastien Loeb, whilst the Nations' Cup was won by the All-Star line-up of Fonsi Nieto, Gilles Panizzi and Cristiano da Matta.

Participants

CountryRacing DriverRally DriverMotorcycle Racer
France Olivier Panis Sébastien Loeb Randy de Puniet
United States Boris Said Casey Mears Travis Pastrana
Great Britain Guy Smith David Higgins James Toseland
Finland JJ Lehto Timo Salonen Samuli Aro
Spain Oriol Servià Flavio Alonso Emilio Alzamora
Sweden Björn Wirdheim Daniel Carlsson Tony Rickardsson
Italy Rinaldo Capello Renato Travaglia Alessandro Gramigni
Germany Sven Heidfeld Armin Kremer Alex Hofmann
All-Stars Cristiano da Matta Gilles Panizzi Fonsi Nieto

Junior Rally Masters

Group stage

DriverRacesWinsLossesBest Time
François Duval3302:10.04
Daniel Carlsson3212:09.28
Txus Jaio3122:19.27
Francisco Suárez3032:10.66
Driver 1Time 1Driver 2Time 2
Daniel Carlsson2:15.11 François Duval2:13.13
Txus Jaio2:19.27 Francisco SuárezDNF
François Duval2:11.68 Txus Jaio02:15.78
Francisco Suárez2:23.69 (penalty) Daniel Carlsson2:11.51
François Duval2:10.04 Francisco Suárez2:10.66
Txus Jaio2:12.10 Daniel Carlsson2:09.28

Final

Nations' Cup

Group stage

Group A

Pos.TeamRacesWinsLossesTotal TimeDriverWinsLossesBest Time
1 Sweden6426:00.60 Daniel Carlssonalign=center 1align=center 11:56.77
Björn Wirdheimalign=center 1align=center 12:01.13
Tony Rickardssonalign=center 2align=center 02:02.70
2 Finland6335:56.92 Timo Salonenalign=center 1align=center 11:57.69
JJ Lehtoalign=center 2align=center 01:59.32
Samuli Aroalign=center 0align=center 21:59.91
36245:56.15 Sébastien Loebalign=center 1align=center 11:56.05
Olivier Panisalign=center 0align=center 22:00.19
Randy de Punietalign=center 1align=center 11:59.91
Team 1Time 1ScoreTeam 2Time 2
Finland2-1 Sweden
Samuli Aro2:05.68Tony Rickardsson2:02.70
JJ Lehto1:59.77Björn Wirdheim2:03.58
Timo Salonen1:59.93Daniel Carlsson2:14.20 (penalty)
Sweden3-0
Tony Rickardsson2:03.24Randy de Puniet2:13.09 (penalty)
Björn Wirdheim2:01.13Olivier Panis2:02.42
Daniel Carlsson1:56.77Sébastien Loeb2:06.91 (penalty)
France2-1 Finland
Randy de Puniet1:59.91Samuli Aro1:59.91
Olivier Panis2:00.19JJ Lehto1:59.32
Sébastien Loeb1:56.05Timo Salonen1:57.69

Group B

Pos.TeamRacesWinsLossesTotal TimeDriverWinsLossesBest Time
1 Spain6605:51.52 Flavio Alonsoalign=center 2align=center 01:56.81
Oriol Serviàalign=center 2align=center 01:57.53
Emilio Alzamoraalign=center 2align=center 01:57.18
2 Italy6246:00.73 Renato Travagliaalign=center 1align=center 11:56.92
Rinaldo Capelloalign=center 1align=center 11:59.84
Alessandro Gramignialign=center 0align=center 22:03.97
3 Great Britain6156:03.51 David Higginsalign=center 0align=center 21:57.72
Guy Smithalign=center 0align=center 22:03.73
James Toselandalign=center 1align=center 12:02.06
Team 1Time 1ScoreTeam 2Time 2
Italy2-1 Great Britain
Alessandro Gramigni2:03.97James Toseland2:02.06
Rinaldo Capello2:00.05Guy Smith2:03.73
Renato Travaglia1:56.92David Higgins3:30.70
Great Britain0-3 Spain
James ToselandDNFEmilio Alzamora1:58.83
Guy Smith2:25.56Oriol Servià2:00.49
David Higgins1:57.72Flavio Alonso1:56.81
Spain3-0 Italy
Emilio Alzamora1:57.18Alessandro Gramigni2:11.34 (penalty)
Oriol Servià1:57.53Rinaldo Capello1:59.84
Flavio Alonso1:56.96Renato Travaglia1:57.45

Group C

Pos.TeamRacesWinsLossesTotal TimeDriverWinsLossesBest Time
1 All-Stars6425:55.38 Gilles Panizzialign=center 2align=center 01:58.15
Cristiano da Mattaalign=center 2align=center 01:57.37
Fonsi Nietoalign=center 0align=center 21:59.86
2 USA6335:55.06 Casey Mearsalign=center 0align=center 21:59.92
Boris Saidalign=center 1align=center 11:59.79
Travis Pastranaalign=center 2align=center 01:55.35
3 Germany6245:57.55 Armin Kremeralign=center 1align=center 11:58.47
Sven Heidfeldalign=center 0align=center 22:00.97
Alex Hofmannalign=center 1align=center 11:58.11
Team 1Time 1ScoreTeam 2Time 2
USA2-1 Germany
Travis Pastrana1:57.16Alex Hofmann2:01.41
Boris Said2:03.04Sven Heidfeld2:03.25
Casey Mears1:59.92Armin Kremer1:48.57
Germany1-2 All-Stars
Alex Hofmann1:58.11Fonsi Nieto1:59.86
Sven Heidfeld2:00.97Cristiano da Matta1:59.25
Armin Kremer1:58.74Gilles Panizzi1:58.15
All-Stars2-1
Fonsi Nieto2:00.60Travis Pastrana1:55.35
Cristiano da Matta1:57.37Boris Said1:59.79
Gilles Panizzi1:58.18Casey Mears2:02.85

Best Times

Pos.RallyRacingMotorcycle
DriverBest TimeDriverBest TimeDriverBest Time
1 Sébastien Loeb1:56.05 Cristiano da Matta1:57.37 Travis Pastrana1:55.35
2 Daniel Carlsson1:56.77 Oriol Servià1:57.53 Emilio Alzamora1:57.18
3 Flavio Alonso1:56.81 JJ Lehto1:59.32 Alex Hofmann1:58.11
4 Renato Travaglia1:56.92 Boris Said1:59.79 Fonsi Nieto1:59.86
5 Timo Salonen1:57.69 Rinaldo Capello1:59.84 Samuli Aro1:59.91
6 David Higgins1:57.72 Olivier Panis2:00.19 Randy de Puniet1:59.91
7 Gilles Panizzi1:58.15 Sven Heidfeld2:00.97 James Toseland2:02.06
8 Armin Kremer1:58.47 Björn Wirdheim2:01.13 Tony Rickardsson2:02.70
9 Casey Mears1:59.92 Guy Smith2:03.73 Alessandro Gramigni2:03.97

Knockout stage

Semifinals

Team 1Time 1ScoreTeam 2Time 2
Spain3-0 Sweden
Emilio Alzamora2:00.69Tony Rickardsson2:02.07
Oriol Servià2:00.48Björn Wirdheim2:02.91
Flavio Alonso1:54.58Daniel Carlsson1:55.45
All-Stars3–2
Fonsi NietoDNFTravis Pastrana2:28.61
Cristiano da Matta1:59.51Boris Said2:00.30
Gilles Panizzi1:53.88Casey Mears1:56.34
Fonsi Nieto2:02.23Travis Pastrana1:56.59
Cristiano da Matta1:57.75Boris Said2:00.61

Final

Team 1Time 1ScoreTeam 2Time 2
2-3 All-Stars
Emilio Alzamora1:58.15Fonsi Nieto2:02.42
Oriol Servià1:59.30Cristiano da Matta1:58.45
Flavio Alonso1:53.37Gilles Panizzi1:52.62
Emilio Alzamora1:56.92Fonsi Nieto1:59.26
Oriol Servià1:59.73Cristiano da Matta1:57.98

Race of Champions

Participation in the main Race of Champions was awarded primarily on the basis of having the best times in the Nations' Cup. There were several exceptions to this rule however – Marcus Grönholm, as the defending champion, was guaranteed a spot, whilst Cristiano da Matta, despite having the best time among racing drivers in the Nations' Cup, did not participate. François Duval secured his place by winning the Junior event, Dani Sordo won the Spanish Masters event, Timo Salonen was an invited 'seeded' driver and Martin Rowe was invited for having won the 2003 PWRC title. Thomas Biagi meanwhile earned his place by beating FIA GT teammate Matteo Bobbi and Volkswagen Cup UK winner Rob Carvell.

Group stage

Group A

DriverRacesWinsLossesBest Time
Renato Travaglia3301:58.07
Dani Sordo3122:03.68
Timo Salonen3122:06.47
Martin Rowe3122:07.45
Driver 1Time 1Driver 2Time 2
Dani SordoDNF Renato Travaglia1:58.07
Martin Rowe2:07.45 Timo Salonen2:07.71
Timo Salonen2:06.47 Dani Sordo2:15 47 (penalty)
Renato Travaglia2:04.27 Martin Rowe2:05.80
Dani Sordo2:03.68 Martin Rowe2:14.38 (penalty)
Timo Salonen2:08.11 Renato Travaglia2:04.33

Group B

DriverRacesWinsLossesBest Time
Flavio Alonso3301:54.50
Oriol Servià3211:54.03
Emilio Alzamora3121:56.67
Thomas Biagi3031:56.77
Driver 1Time 1Driver 2Time 2
Oriol Servià1:55.71 Emilio Alzamora1:59.99
Thomas Biagi2:02.72 Flavio Alonso1:57.05
Flavio Alonso1:54.84 Oriol Servià1:55.64
Emilio Alzamora1:56.67 Thomas Biagi2:07.61 (penalty)
Emilio Alzamora1:54.53 Flavio Alonso1:54.50
Oriol Servià1:54.03 Thomas Biagi1:56.77

Knockout stage

Quarterfinals

Driver 1Time 1Driver 2Time 2
Sébastien Loeb1:56.96 Daniel Carlsson1:57.90
Sébastien Loeb1:51.67 Daniel Carlsson1:52.38
Flavio Alonso1:57.13 François Duval1:57.03
Flavio Alonso1:52.30 François Duval1:52.05
Marcus Grönholm1:56.51 Travis Pastrana2:37.21
Gilles Panizzi1:58.21 Renato Travaglia1:58.57
Gilles Panizzi1:53.60 Renato Travaglia1:53.67

Semifinals

Driver 1Time 1Driver 2Time 2
Sébastien Loeb1:56.55 François Duval1:56.60
Sébastien Loeb1:51.85 François Duval1:52.30
Marcus Grönholm1:57.07 Gilles Panizzi1:57.64
Marcus Grönholm1:53.53 Gilles Panizzi1:53.46
Marcus Grönholm1:52.18 Gilles Panizzi1:53.05

Final

Driver 1Time 1Driver 2Time 2
Sébastien Loeb1:56.15 Marcus Grönholm1:56.45
Sébastien Loeb1:52.30 Marcus Grönholm1:53.09

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Michelin Race of Champions . 12 December 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20061115105125/http://www.europeancarweb.com/events/0407ec_michellin_race_champions/ . 15 November 2006 .
  2. Web site: Michelin Race of Champions. 12 December 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20150108132329/http://forum.grandprix.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7676. 8 January 2015. dead.

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