2003 World Rally Championship Explained

The 2003 World Rally Championship was the 31st season of the FIA World Rally Championship. The season consisted of 14 rallies. The drivers' world championship was won by Petter Solberg in a Subaru Impreza WRC, ahead of Sébastien Loeb and Carlos Sainz. The manufacturers' title was won by Citroën, ahead of Peugeot and Subaru.

Calendar

The 2003 championship was contested over fourteen rounds in Europe, Asia, South America and Oceania.

RoundDatesRallySupport class
123–26 January Monte Carlo RallyJWRC
26–9 February Swedish RallyPWRC
327 February-2 March Rally of TurkeyJWRC
410–13 Aprilnowrap Rally New ZealandPWRC
58–11 May Rally ArgentinaPWRC
66–8 June Acropolis RallyJWRC
720–22 June Cyprus RallyPWRC
825–27 July Rallye DeutschlandPWRC
97–10 August Rally FinlandJWRC
10nowrap4–7 September Rally AustraliaPWRC
112–5 October Rallye SanremoJWRC
1216–19 October Tour de CorsePWRC
1324–26 October Rally CatalunyaJWRC
146–9 November Wales Rally GBJWRC

Teams and drivers

Manufacturer teams
TeamManufacturerCarTyreNoDriversCo-driversRounds
Marlboro Peugeot TotalPeugeot206 WRC1nowrap Marcus Grönholm Timo RautiainenAll
21–13
Freddy Loix Sven Smeets14
3 Hervé Panizzi1, 8, 11–13
Risto Pietiläinennowrap2–7, 9–10, 14
21 Gilles Panizzi Hervé Panizzi6–7, 14
Ford Motor Co LtdFordFocus RS WRC 024 Markko Märtin Michael Park1–3
Focus RS WRC 034–14
Focus RS WRC 025 François Duval Jean-Marc Fortin1–2
Stéphane Prévot3
Focus RS WRC 034–14
Focus RS WRC 02
6 Mikko Hirvonen Jarmo LehtinenAll
20 Jari-Matti Latvala Carl Williamson6
Miikka Anttila8–9, 14
555 Subaru World Rally TeamSubaruImpreza WRC 20037 Petter Solberg Phil MillsAll
8 Tommi Mäkinen Kaj LindströmAll
Hyundai World Rally TeamHyundaiAccent WRC310 Armin Schwarz Manfred Hiemer1–10
11 Freddy Loix Sven Smeets1–10
12 Jussi Välimäki Tero Gardemeister2, 4, 6, 9
Justin Dale Andrew Bargery7
Manfred Stohl Ilka Minor8
206, 10
22 Justin Dale Andrew Bargery8, 10
Škoda MotorsportŠkodaOctavia WRC Evo3
Fabia WRC
14 Didier Auriol Denis GiraudetAll
15 Toni Gardemeister Paavo LukanderAll
22 Matthias Kahle Peter Göbel8
26 Jan Kopecký Filip Schovánek8, 14
32 Gabriel Pozzo Daniel Stillo5
Citroën TotalCitroënXsara WRC17 Colin McRae Derek RingerAll
18 Sébastien Loeb Daniel ElenaAll
19 Carlos Sainz Marc MartíAll
20 Philippe Bugalskinowrap Jean-Paul Chiaroni8, 11–13
25 Daniel Solà Álex Romaní6, 14
Major entries not registered as manufacturers
TeamManufacturerCarDriversRounds
Bozian RacingPeugeot206 WRC Cédric Robert Gérald Bedon1, 8, 11–13
Gilles Panizzi Herve Panizzi3
Roman Kresta Miloš Hůlka1–2, 6
Jan Tománek8, 11, 13–14
Juuso Pykälistö Esko Mertsalmi2–3, 6–7, 9
Risto Mannisenmäki14
Ari Vatanen Juha Repo9
Stohl Racing Manfred Stohl Ilka Minor4, 12, 14
Peugeot Sport Finland Sebastian Lindholm Timo Hantunen9
Team BSA Alexandre Bengue Caroline Escudero12
AW Rally TeamFordFocus RS WRC Antony Warmbold Gemma Pricenowrap1–2, 4–10, 12–14
LPM Racing Janne Tuohino Jukka Aho2, 9
Kuchar Team Poland Tomasz Kucharnowrap Maciek Szczepaniak2, 4, 6
Wrüth Sport Jari Viita Teppo Leino2
Riku Rousku9
Ford Motor Hellasnowrap Ioannis Papadimitriou Allan Harryman2, 6
Armodios Vovos Loris Meletopoulos6
OMV Best Racing Team Balázs Benik Bence Rácz3, 10
nowrap Ford Hazirkart Rally Team Serkan Yazici Can Okan3
ADR Motorsport Alistair Ginley Rory Kennedy3, 6–9, 12–14
Dom Buckley MotorsportSubaruImpreza WRC Eamonn Boland Francis Regan1, 14
Morgan Motorsport Tapio Laukkanen Harri Kaapro14
Mitsubishi Ralliart EuropeMitsubishiLancer Evo WRC2 Kristian Sohlberg Jakke Honkanen2, 4, 8
Alister McRae David Senior4
Jani Paasonen Arto Kapanen8

JWRC entries

NoEntrantDriversCo-driverCarRounds
51 Purity Auto Mirco Baldacci Giovanni BernacchiniFiat Punto S16001, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13–14
52 Suzuki Sport Daniel Carlsson Mattias AnderssonSuzuki Ignis S16001, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13–14
64 Ville-Pertti Teuronen Harri Kaapro1, 3, 6, 9, 11
Mikko Markkula13–14
69 Salvador Cañellas Xavier Amigó1, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13–14
71 Urmo Aava Kuldar Sikk1, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13–14
53 Schmidt Racing David Doppelreiter Ola FløenePeugeot 206 S16001
54 Volkswagen Racing Kosti Katajamäki Miikka AnttilaVolkswagen Polo S16001, 3, 6
Jani Laaksonen9, 11, 13–14
62 Oscar Svedlund Björn Nilsson1, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13–14
73 Krum Donchev Ruman Manolov14
78 Vladan Vasiljevic Sebastian Geipel1, 3, 6, 11
55 Ford Motor Co Ltd Martin Stenshorne Clive JenkinsFord Puma S16001, 3, 6
70 Guy Wilks Phil Pugh1, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13–14
57 Auto Sport Italia Dimitar Iliev Petar SivovPeugeot 206 S16001, 3, 6
Yanaki Yanakiev9, 11, 13–14
73 Krum Donchev Ruman Manolov1, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13
58 Top Run SRL Marcos Ligato Rubén GarciaFiat Punto S16001, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13–14
63 Massimo Ceccato Mitia Dotta1, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13–14
76 Luca Cecchettini Marco Muzzarelli1, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13–14
59 Astra Racing Beppo Harrach Michael KölbachFord Puma S16001, 3, 6, 11, 14
65 Abdo Feghali Joseph Matar1, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13–14
60 Jolly Club Pavel Valoušek Pierangelo ScalviniCitroën Saxo S16001, 3
61 Renault Sport Brice Tirabassi Jacques-Julien RenucciRenault Clio S16001, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13–14
66 Citroën Sport Sébastien Ceccone Julien GirouxCitroën Saxo S16001, 3, 6
67 Sab Motorsport Alessandro Broccoli Simona GirelliOpel Corsa S16001, 3, 6, 9, 11
Giovanni Agnese13–14
68 Juraj Šebalj Toni KlincRenault Clio S16001, 3, 6
72 Errepi Racing Jader Vagnini Lorenzo GranaiFiat Punto S16001
74 Opel Motorsport Kris Meeke Chris PattersonOpel Corsa S16001, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13–14
75 Orlen Team Dariusz Chudobinski Przemysław SzulcCitroën Saxo S16001
77 Chicco d'Oro Filippo Suessli Loris PalaFiat Punto S16001
78 Peugeot Dealer Team Sweden Vladan Vasiljevic Sebastian GeipelPeugeot 206 S16009

PWRC entries

NoEntrantDriversCo-driverCar Rounds
51 Petronas EON Racing Team Karamjit Singh Allen OhProton Pert2, 4–5, 7–8, 10
52 Mauro Rally Tuning Daniel Solà Álex RomaníMitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII12
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII4–5, 7–8, 10
53 Ramón Ferreyros Javier Marin5, 8, 12
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI4, 7, 10
56 Gustavo Trelles Jorge Del Buono4
57 Giovanni Manfrinato Claudio CondottaMitsubishi Lancer Evo VII7–8, 10
54 Subaru Production Rally Team Toshihiro Arai Tony SircombeSubaru Impreza WRX STI2, 4–5, 7, 10, 12
62 Peter 'Possum' Bourne Mark Stacey2, 4
55 David Sutton Cars Ltd Martin Rowe Trevor AgnewSubaru Impreza WRX STI2, 4, 7–8, 10, 12
65 Stig Blomqvist Ana Goñi2, 4, 7–8, 10, 12
57 Top Run SRL Giovanni Manfrinato Claudio CondottaMitsubishi Lancer Evo VI4–5
58 Marcos Ligato Rubén GarciaMitsubishi Lancer Evo VII4–5, 7–8, 10, 12
59 Stefano Marrini Massimo Agotinelli2, 5, 7–8
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI10, 12
63 Luca Baldini Alessandro Floris2, 4–5
60 Neil Allport Motorsports Niall McShea Chris PattersonMitsubishi Lancer Evo VI4–5, 7–8, 10, 12
61 Mobil 1 Team Poland Janusz Kulig Jarosław BaranMitsubishi Lancer Evo VI2, 4
Dariusz Burkat7–8
Maciek Szczepaniak10, 12
64 Millbrooks World Rally Team Joakim Roman Tina MitakidouMitsubishi Lancer Evo VI2, 4, 7–8
Ragnar Spjuth10, 12
66 Stohl Racing Hamed Al Wahaibi Nicky BeechMitsubishi Lancer Evo VII4–5
72 Constantin Aur Silviu Moraru2
Adrian Berghea4, 7–8, 10, 12
67 Orlen Team Krzysztof Hołowczyc Łukasz KurzejaMitsubishi Lancer Evo VII2, 4–5, 7–8
68 Kuchar Team Poland Tomasz Kuchar Maciek SzczepaniakMitsubishi Lancer Evo VI
69 Guy Colsoul Rallysport Bob Colsoul Tom ColsoulMitsubishi Lancer Evo VII2, 5, 7–8, 12
77 Alfredo De Dominicis Giovanni Bernacchini5
70 Errani Team Group Riccardo Errani Stefano CasadioMitsubishi Lancer Evo VI4–5, 7–8, 10, 12
71 Racing Team Burgaltabac Georgi Geradzhiev Nikola PopovMitsubishi Lancer Evo VI2, 4–5, 7–8, 12
73 Hanácký Rally Klub Stanislav Chovanec Karel HolaňMitsubishi Lancer Evo VII2
74 Motoring Club Fabio Frisiero Loris RoggiaMitsubishi Lancer Evo VI2
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII4–5
Giovanni Agnese7–8, 12
75 PK7 Competicio Joaquim Manresa Miquel AmblásMitsubishi Lancer Evo VI
76 Subaru Rally Team Canada Patrick Richard Martin HeadlandSubaru Impreza WRX STI2
Mikael Johansson4–5, 7
Ola Fløene8, 12
77 Ralliart Italy Alfredo De Dominicis Giovanni BernacchiniMitsubishi Lancer Evo VI2, 5, 7–8, 12
78 First Motorsport Łukasz Sztuka Per CarlssonMitsubishi Lancer Evo VI2
Zbigniew Cieslar4–5, 8
79 Advan-Piaa Rally Team Fumio Nutahara Satoshi HayashiMitsubishi Lancer Evo VII
80 Triviño Racing Ricardo Triviño Jordi BarradésMitsubishi Lancer Evo VII2, 4–5, 7–8, 12

Results and standings

Drivers' championship

DriverMON
SWE
TUR
NZL
ARG
GRE
CYP
GER
FIN
AUS
ITA
FRA
ESP
GBR
 Pts 
1 Petter SolbergRet6Ret3531821Ret15172
2 Sébastien Loeb17Ret4RetRet31521132271
3 Carlos Sainz39112225645427Ret63
4 Richard Burns532234Ret33378Ret58
5 Markko Märtin446RetRet1Ret51DSQ3Ret3Ret49
6 Marcus Grönholm131911RetRet2RetRetRet46Ret46
7 Colin McRae254RetRet844Ret4659445
8 Tommi MäkinenRet287Ret5RetRet661078330
9 François Duval7Ret398RetRet7Ret10534530
10 Gilles PanizziRet57Ret10261Ret27
11 Harri RovanperäRetRetRet462Ret7Ret18
12 Toni GardemeisterRet8757RetRetRetRet11Ret1112Ret9
13 Didier Auriol918Ret869RetRetRet1212RetRet114
14 Freddy LoixRet1010RetRetRetRet1110864
15 Cédric Robert69912113
16 Mikko HirvonenRet11Ret1016Ret613Ret9Ret1014Ret3
17 Alister McRae63
18 Armin Schwarz813RetRetRetRet71212133
19 Manfred StohlRet1118DNSRet72
20 Janne Tuohino1772
21 Philippe BugalskiRet89101
22 Roman Kresta1014RetRet111381
23 Alistair Ginley12158Ret23Ret23Ret1
24align=left nowrap Sebastian Lindholm81
DriverMON
SWE
TUR
NZL
ARG
GRE
CYP
GER
FIN
AUS
ITA
FRA
ESP
GBR
 Pts 

Manufacturers' championship

Manufacturer Teams must enter at least two cars.[2] This allowed Manufacturers to have three or four cars registered on a single event, but only their best two result would count to the championship.

ManufacturerMON
SWE
TUR
NZL
ARG
GRE
CYP
GER
FIN
AUS
ITA
FRA
ESP
GBR
Points
1 Citroën Total World Rally Team17254RetRet744Ret4(6)5(9)4160
1817Ret4RetRet31521(12)22
19(3)(9)1(10)22(5)(6)4(5)427Ret
20Ret(8)(9)(10)
2 Marlboro Peugeot Total181811RetRet2RetRetRet46Ret145
2432234Ret3336(8)Ret6
3RetRetRetRet(4)62(9)Ret6261Ret
3 555 Subaru World Rally Team7Ret6Ret3431721Ret151109
8Ret276Ret5RetRet657783
4 Ford Motor Co4345RetRet1Ret51Ret3Ret3Ret93
55Ret387RetRet6Ret95345
6Ret10Ret98Ret5(12)Ret8Ret8(12)Ret
5 Škoda Motorsport14712Ret758RetRetRet118RetRet723
15Ret8656RetRetRetRet10Ret99Ret
6 Hyundai World Rally Team10611RetRetRetRet6981212
11Ret99RetRetRetRet877
12RetRetRetRet(13)Ret
ManufacturerMON
SWE
TUR
NZL
ARG
GRE
CYP
GER
FIN
AUS
ITA
FRA
ESP
GBR
Points

JWRC Drivers' championship

DriverMON
TUR
GRE
FIN
ITA
ESP
GBR
 Pts 
1 Brice Tirabassi1Ret12Ret1Ret38
2 Salvador Cañellas Jr.Ret24523436
3 Daniel CarlssonRetRet21Ret4133
4 Urmo Aava4Ret34Ret5Ret20
5 Mirco Baldacci7RetRetRet1Ret220
6 Ville-Pertti TeuronenRet4RetRet46319
7 Guy WilksRet363611Ret18
8 Alessandro Broccoli3RetRet6RetRet513
9 Marcos Ligato2RetRet7Ret10
10 Kosti KatajamäkiEX1RetRetRetRetRet10
11 Massimo Ceccato5RetRetRetRet868
12 Luca Cecchettini95RetRet510Ret8
13 Dimitar IlievRet7RetRet3Ret8
14 Kris Meeke12RetRetRetRet2Ret8
15 Abdo Feghali103RetRet77Ret7
16 Oscar SvedlundRetRet58RetRet5
17 Juraj Šebalj6Ret3
18 Beppo Harrach8RetRet1
19 Krum Donchev11RetRetRet90
20align=left nowrap Vladan V-Man VasiljevicRetRetRetRet0
21 Martin StenshorneRetRetRet0
22 Sebastien CecconeRetRet0
DriverMON
TUR
GRE
FIN
ITA
ESP
GBR
Pts

PWRC Drivers' championship

DriverSWE
NZL
ARG
CYP
GER
AUS
FRA
 Pts 
1 Martin Rowe34221343
2 Toshihiro AraiRet111Ret238
3 Stig Blomqvist18354530
4align=left nowrap Karamjit Singh263Ret4230
5 Daniel Solà152Ret15Ret22
6 Niall McShea7RetRetRet3118
7 Marcos Ligato2Ret4RetRet13
8 Janusz KuligRetRetRet3411
9 Ricardo TriviñoRet 116Ret 678
10 Bob Colsoul9Ret 5Ret 67
11 Hamed Al Wahaibi3Ret6
12 Riccardo ErraniRet76986
13 Joakim Roman612RetRet696
14 Peter 'Possum' Bourne4Ret5
15 Giovanni Manfrinato94RetRet5
16 Krzysztof Hołowczyc5RetRet4
17 Ramón Ferreyros5RetRetRetRetRet4
18 Alfredo De Dominicis10135RetRetRet4
19 Łukasz Sztuka7Ret2
20 Constantin AurRetRetRet7Ret2
21 Patrick Richard8RetRetRetRetRet1
22 Stefano MarriniRetRetRet8Ret101
DriverSWE
NZL
ARG
CYP
GER
AUS
FRA
Pts

Events

RoundRally NameStart-End DatePodium Drivers
(Finishing Time)
Podium Cars
1 Monte Carlo Rally24 January–26 January
  1. Sébastien Loeb (4h:29m:11.4s)
  2. Colin McRae (4h:29m:49.5s)
  3. Carlos Sainz (4h:30m:03.6s)
  1. Citroën Xsara WRC
  2. Citroën Xsara WRC
  3. Citroën Xsara WRC
2 Swedish Rally7 February–9 February
  1. Marcus Grönholm (3h:03m:28.1s)
  2. Tommi Mäkinen (3h:04m:18.9s)
  3. Richard Burns (3h:04m:46.0s)
  1. Peugeot 206 WRC
  2. Subaru Impreza WRC 2003
  3. Peugeot 206 WRC
3 Rally of Turkey27 February–2 March
  1. Carlos Sainz (4h:32m:14.1s)
  2. Richard Burns (4h:33m:02.0s)
  3. François Duval (4h:34m:00.6s)
  1. Citroën Xsara WRC
  2. Peugeot 206 WRC
  3. Ford Focus RS WRC 02
4 Rally New Zealand11 April–13 April
  1. Marcus Grönholm (3h:45m:21.2s)
  2. Richard Burns (3h:46m:29.9s)
  3. Petter Solberg (3h:47m:31.0s)
  1. Peugeot 206 WRC
  2. Peugeot 206 WRC
  3. Subaru Impreza WRC 2003
5 Rally Argentina8 May–11 May
  1. Marcus Grönholm (4h:14m:45.0s)
  2. Carlos Sainz (4h:15m:11.6s)
  3. Richard Burns (4h:15m:57.8s)
  1. Peugeot 206 WRC
  2. Citroën Xsara WRC
  3. Peugeot 206 WRC
6 Acropolis Rally6 June–8 June
  1. Markko Märtin (4h:53m:40.5s)
  2. Carlos Sainz (4h:54m:26.5s)
  3. Petter Solberg (4h:54m:33.2s)
  1. Ford Focus RS WRC 03
  2. Citroën Xsara WRC
  3. Subaru Impreza WRC 2003
7 Cyprus Rally20 June–22 June
  1. Petter Solberg (5h:09m:12.6s)
  2. Harri Rovanperä (5h:13m:26.6s)
  3. Sébastien Loeb (5h:13m:29.4s)
  1. Subaru Impreza WRC 2003
  2. Peugeot 206 WRC
  3. Citroën Xsara WRC
8 Rallye Deutschland25 July–27 July
  1. Sébastien Loeb (3h:46m:50.4s)
  2. Marcus Grönholm (3h:46m:54.0s)
  3. Richard Burns (3h:47m:10.1s)
  1. Citroën Xsara WRC
  2. Peugeot 206 WRC
  3. Peugeot 206 WRC
9 Rally Finland7 August–10 August
  1. Markko Märtin (3h:21m:51.7s)
  2. Petter Solberg (3h:22m:50.6s)
  3. Richard Burns (3h:22m:51.8s)
  1. Ford Focus RS WRC 03
  2. Subaru Impreza WRC 2003
  3. Peugeot 206 WRC
10 Rally Australia4 September–7 September
  1. Petter Solberg (3h:32m:07.1s)
  2. Sébastien Loeb (3h:32m:33.7s)
  3. Richard Burns (3h:34m:00.1s)
  1. Subaru Impreza WRC 2003
  2. Citroën Xsara WRC
  3. Peugeot 206 WRC
11 Rallye Sanremo3 October–5 October
  1. Sébastien Loeb (4h:16m:33.7s)
  2. Gilles Panizzi (4h:17m:02.0s)
  3. Markko Märtin (4h:17m:28.3s)
  1. Citroën Xsara WRC
  2. Peugeot 206 WRC
  3. Ford Focus RS WRC 03
12 Tour de Corse17 October–19 October
  1. Petter Solberg (4h:20m:15.3s)
  2. Carlos Sainz (4h:20m:51.9s)
  3. François Duval (4h:20m:57.0s)
  1. Subaru Impreza WRC 2003
  2. Citroën Xsara WRC
  3. Ford Focus RS WRC 03
13 Rally Catalunya24 October–26 October
  1. Gilles Panizzi (3h:55m:09.4s)
  2. Sébastien Loeb (3h:55m:22.4s)
  3. Markko Märtin (3h:55m:23.0s)
  1. Peugeot 206 WRC
  2. Citroën Xsara WRC
  3. Ford Focus RS WRC 03
14 Wales Rally GB6 November–9 November
  1. Petter Solberg (3h:28m:58.1s)
  2. Sébastien Loeb (3h:29m:41.7s)
  3. Tommi Mäkinen (3h:31m:56.9s)
  1. Subaru Impreza WRC 2003
  2. Citroën Xsara WRC
  3. Subaru Impreza WRC 2003

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hart. Jeremy. Hard Charger:Petter Solberg Takes The 2003 World Rally Championship. Autoweek. 9 November 2003. 9 April 2024.
  2. Web site: World Rally Championship - Fun Facts, Questions, Answers, Information . www.funtrivia.com . 6 June 2022 . https://archive.today/20130411000318/http://www.funtrivia.com/en/subtopics/World-Rally-Championship-123401.html . 11 April 2013 . dead.
  3. News: Solberg pips Loeb for world title. The Sydney Morning Herald. 11 November 2003. 9 April 2024.
  4. Web site: Hope-Frost. Henry. On this day in... 2003. Goodwood Road & Racing. 9 November 2017. 9 April 2024.