2004 World Rally Championship Explained

thumb|Sébastien Loeb (pictured in 2014) won his first WRC drivers' championshipthumb|Defending champion Petter Solberg (pictured in 2017) was runner-upThe 2004 World Rally Championship was the 32nd season of the FIA World Rally Championship. The season consisted of 16 rallies. The drivers' world championship was won by Sébastien Loeb in a Citroën Xsara WRC, ahead of Petter Solberg and Markko Märtin. The manufacturers' title was won by Citroën, ahead of Ford and Subaru.

The video game WRC 4: The Official Game of the FIA World Rally Championship was based on this season.

Calendar

The 2004 championship was contested over sixteen rounds in Europe, Asia, the Americas and Oceania.

RoundDatesRallySupport class
123–25 January Monte Carlo RallyJWRC
26–8 February Swedish RallyPWRC
312–14 March Rally MexicoPWRC
415–18 April Rally New ZealandPWRC
513–16 May Cyprus Rallynone
63–6 June Acropolis RallyJWRC
724–27 June Rally of TurkeyJWRC
815–18 July Rally ArgentinaPWRC
96–8 August Rally FinlandJWRC
1020–22 August Rallye DeutschlandPWRC
113–5 September Rally Japannone
1216–19 September Wales Rally GBJWRC
13nowrap30 September-3 Octobernowrap Rally d'Italia SardegnaJWRC
1415–17 October Tour de CorsePWRC
1529–31 October Rally CatalunyaJWRC
1611–14 November Rally AustraliaPWRC

Teams and drivers

Manufacturer teams
TeamManufacturerCarTyreNoDriversCo-driversRounds
555 Subaru World Rally TeamSubaruImpreza WRC2003/41 Petter Solberg Phil MillsAll
2 Mikko Hirvonen Jarmo LehtinenAll
Citroën TotalCitroënXsara WRC3 Sébastien Loeb Daniel ElenaAll
4 Carlos Sainz Marc Martí1-15
Marlboro Peugeot TotalPeugeot307 WRC5 Marcus Grönholm Timo RautiainenAll
6 Freddy Loix Sven Smeets1–2, 15
nowrap Harri Rovanperänowrap Risto Pietiläinen3–9, 11–13, 16
Cédric Robert Gérald Bedon10, 14
9 Freddy Loix Sven Smeets10, 14
14 Sebastian Lindholm Tomi Tuominen9
15 Daniel Carlsson Mattias Andersson12
Ford Motor Co LtdFordFocus RS WRC 03/047 Markko Märtin Michael ParkAll
8 François Duval Stéphane Prévotnowrap1, 3–8, 10, 12–16
Philippe Droeven11
Janne Tuohino Jukka Aho2, 9
11 Antony Warmbold Gemma PriceAll
15 François Duval Stéphane Prévot2, 9
19 Jussi Välimäki Jakke Honkanen10
22 Jari Viita Timo Hantunen2, 4, 9
Mitsubishi Motors Motor SportsMitsubishiLancer WRC049 Gilles Panizzi Hervé Panizzi1–10, 15
10 Gianluigi Galli Guido d'Amore1, 3, 7
Kristian Sohlberg Kaj Lindström2, 4–5, 8–9
Daniel Solà Xavier Amigò6, 10, 15
14 Gianluigi Galli Guido d'Amore15
Major entries not registered as manufacturers
TeamManufacturerCarDriversCo-driversRounds
Škoda MotorsportŠkodaFabia WRC Armin Schwarz Manfred Hiemer6, 9–10, 12–15
Toni Gardemeister Paavo Lukander6, 9–10, 12–15
Jan Kopecký Filip Schovánek15
Roman Kresta Jan Tománek10
Jani Paasonen Jani Vainikka9, 12
Bozian RacingPeugeot206 WRC Nicolas Vouilloz David Fiorini1
Denis Giraudet6, 10, 12–15
Miguel Campos Nuno Rodrigues da Silva1, 5
Henning Solberg Cato Menkerudnowrap2, 4–5, 7, 9, 12–13
Daniel Carlsson Mattias Anderssonnowrap2, 4, 6–7, 9–10, 14
nowrap Luís Pérez Compancnowrap Jose Maria Volta3, 5, 8, 13
Manfred Stohl Ilka Minor6, 12
Equipe de France FFSA Alexandre Bengué Caroline Escudero1, 10, 14
Scuderia Chicco d'OroSubaruImpreza WRC Olivier Burrinowrap Jean-Philippe Patthey1
Dom Buckley Motorsport Eamonn Boland Francis Regan1, 15
ADR Motorsport Alistair Ginley Rory Kennedy5–7, 9–10, 12
Equipe de France FFSA Stéphane Sarrazin Patrick Pivato10, 14–15
Aimont Racing Team Andrea Navarra Simona Fedeli13
Hyundai World Rally TeamHyundaiAccent WRC Roman Kresta Jan Tománek1
Jussi Välimäki Jakke Honkanen1, 3, 5–6
Jozef Béreš Jr. Petr Starý1–2, 6
Kristian Kolberg Ola Fløene2
Thomas Kolberg Ole Kristian Unnerud2
Hyundai Assan Motorsports Murat Akdilek Caglar Suren7
Ender Alkoclar Ismet Özbakir7
SupsetFordFocus RS WRC Janne Tuohino Jukka Aho5–7
JM Engineering Roman Kresta Jan Tománek6
M-Sport Mark Higgins Michael Gibson12
Matthew Wilson Scott Martin12
nowrap Citroën Kronos Racing TeamCitroënXsara WRC Juuso Pykälistö Mika Ovaskainen9, 13

JWRC entries

NoEntrantDriversCo-driverCarRounds
31 Suzuki Sport Mirco Baldacci Giovanni BernacchiniSuzuki Ignis S16001, 6–7, 9, 12–13, 15
32 Urmo Aava Kuldar Sikk1, 6–7, 9, 12–13, 15
33 Guy Wilks Phil Pugh1, 6–7, 9, 12–13, 15
35 Kosti Katajamäki Timo Alanne1, 6–7, 9, 12–13, 15
43 Jari-Matti Latvala Miikka Anttila9, 12–13, 15
45 Per-Gunnar Andersson Jonas Andersson1, 6–7, 9, 12–13, 15
34 Sab Motorsport Alessandro Broccoli Giovanni AgneseFiat Punto S16001, 6–7, 9, 12–13, 15
36 McRae Motorsport Kris Meeke Chris PattersonOpel Corsa S16001, 6–7, 9
David Senior12–13
Citroën C2 S160015
37 Autorel Sport Luca Cecchettini Nicola ArenaRenault Clio S16001, 6–7, 9, 12–13
38 Astra Racing Abdo Feghali Joseph MatarFord Puma S16001
Ford Fiesta S16006–7
43 Jari-Matti Latvala Miikka Anttila6–7
Ford Puma S16001
39 Renault Sport Nicolas Bernardi Denis GiraudetRenault Clio S16001, 6–7, 9, 12–13, 15
51 Larry Cols Filip Goddé1, 6–7, 9, 12–13, 15
40 Citroën Total Guerlain Chicherit Michel PerinCitroën Saxo S16001
Mattiheu Baumel6–7, 9, 12–13, 15
41 Risbridger Motorsport Natalie Barratt Carl WilliamsonMG ZR S16001
Renault Clio S16006–7, 9, 12–13, 15
42 Power Car Team Mathieu Biasion Eric DomenechRenault Clio S16009, 12–13
H.F. Grifone SRLFiat Punto S16006–7
Philippe Coquard1
44 Alan Scorcioni Massimo Daddoveri1, 6–7, 9
Silvio Stefanelli12
Fulvio Florean13, 15
47 Luca Tabaton Gisella Rovegno1, 6–7, 9, 12–13, 15
46 RACC Motor Sport Xavier Pons Oriol JuliàFiat Punto S16001, 6–7, 9, 12–13
Renault Clio S160015
48 Team Birkbeck Rallysport Conrad Rautenbach Peter MarshFord Puma S16001
Timothy SturlaOpel Corsa S16006–7
Mark Jones9, 12
Suzuki Ignis S160013
Citroën Saxo S160015
49 Meteco Corse Luca Betti Michele RossoPeugeot 206 S16001, 7
Paolo del Grande6, 9
Michele RossoFiat Punto S160012–13
Paolo del Grande15
50 Prospeed Motorsport Oliver Marshall Craig ParryRenault Clio S16001, 6–7, 9, 12–13, 15

PWRC entries

NoEntrantDriversCo-driverCarRounds
31 Subaru Team Arai Toshihiro Arai Tony SircombeSubaru Impreza WRX STI2–4, 8, 10, 16
32 Petronas EON Racing Team Karamjit Singh Allen OhProton Pert2–4, 8, 10, 16
33 Ralliart Italy Daniel Solá Xavier AmigòMitsubishi Lancer Evo VII2–4, 8, 14, 16
43 Gianluigi Galli Guido D'Amore2, 4, 8, 10, 14, 16
34 Syms Niall McShea Gordon NobleSubaru Impreza WRX STI3–4
Michael Orr8, 10, 14, 16
35 Top Run SRL Marcos Ligato Rubén GarciaSubaru Impreza WRX STI2, 16
Jorge Del Buono3–4
Diego Curletto8, 14
42 Mark Higgins Michael Gibson2–4, 8, 14, 16
45 Fabio Frisiero Giovanni Agnese2–4, 8, 14, 16
36 Triviño Racing Ricardo Triviño Jordi BarradésMitsubishi Lancer Evo VII2–3, 8, 10, 14
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII4
37 Millbrooks World Rally Team Joakim Roman Ragnar SpjuthSubaru Impreza WRX STI2–4, 10, 14, 16
38 Racing Team Bulgartabac Georgi Geradzhiev Nikola PopovMitsubishi Lancer Evo VII2, 4, 8, 10, 14, 16
39 R.E.D World Rally Team Alister McRae David SeniorSubaru Impreza WRX STI2–4, 10, 14, 16
40 OMV World Rally Team Manfred Stohl Ilka MinorMitsubishi Lancer Evo VII2–4, 8, 10, 16
41 Jani Paasonen Sirkka Rautiainen2–4, 8, 10, 16
50 Sebastian Vollak Michael KölbachMitsubishi Lancer Evo VI2, 4, 8, 10, 14, 16
44 Autotek Motorsport Nasser Al-Attiyah Steve LancasterSubaru Impreza WRX STI2–3
Chris Patterson4, 8, 14, 16
46 Kuchar Team Poland Tomasz Kuchar Maciek WodniakMitsubishi Lancer Evo VII2–4, 10, 14, 16
47 Ralliart Spain Xavier Pons Oriol JuliàMitsubishi Lancer Evo VII2–4, 8, 10, 14, 16
49 Sergio Fombona Guifré Pujol2–4, 8, 10, 14
48 Advan-Piaa Rally Team Fumio Nutahara Satoshi HayashiMitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII3–4, 8, 10, 14, 16

Results and standings

Drivers' championship

DriverMON
SWE
MEX
NZL
CYP
GRE
TUR
ARG
FIN
GER
JPN
GBR
ITA
FRA
ESP
AUS
 Pts 
1 Sébastien Loeb11Ret41212412222Ret1118
2 Petter Solberg7341413RetRetRet11155Ret82
3 Markko Märtin27132Ret24Ret2433Ret11Ret79
4 Carlos SainzRet536319413354333WD73
5 Marcus Grönholm4262DSQRet2Ret1Ret4Ret742Ret62
6 François Duval3Ret218Ret45372Ret55RetRet353
7 Mikko HirvonenRet9575Ret64Ret877Ret108429
8 Harri Rovanperä105DSQ3Ret5Ret66Ret228
9 Janne Tuohino46775Ret16
10 Freddy Loix5Ret67Ret9
11 Stéphane Sarrazin9648
12 Daniel Carlsson885Ret9RetRet116
13 Gilles Panizzi6Ret8RetRet10Ret711Ret126
14 Andrea Navarra45
15 Gianluigi GalliRet24RetRet10Ret14Ret6Ret7Ret5
16 Chris AtkinsonRet331254
17 Cédric Robert5Ret4
18 Manfred StohlRetRet10612328Ret4
19 Henning Solberg6RetRetRet1011Ret3
20 Jani Paasonen16Ret1410620RetRet3
21 Daniel Solà2011RetRetDSQRetRet6Ret3
22 Xavier PonsRet46161616RetRet281524Ret12Ret63
23align=left nowrap Luís Pérez CompancRetRet6Ret3
24 Toni GardemeisterRet8722Ret993
25 Antony WarmboldRet15919Ret989Ret1381082013143
26 Alistair Ginley711Ret15Ret122
27 Jussi Välimäki117RetRet26142
28 Cody Crocker111472
29 Armin SchwarzRet1211RetRet8111
30 Toshi Arai261315Ret18981
31 Olivier Burri81
32 Miguel CamposRet81
33 Aris Vovos81
34 Gabriel Pozzo81
DriverMON
SWE
MEX
NZL
CYP
GRE
TUR
ARG
FIN
GER
JPN
GBR
ITA
FRA
ESP
AUS
 Pts 
Sources:[1] [2]

Manufacturers' championship

ManufacturerMON
SWE
MEX
NZL
CYP
GRE
TUR
ARG
FIN
GER
JPN
GBR
ITA
FRA
ESP
AUS
Points
1align=left rowspan=2 Citroën311Ret41212412222Ret1194
4Ret53636413354333WD
2align=left rowspan=2 Ford727132Ret8Ret2433Ret11Ret143
83428Ret45352Ret54RetRet3
3align=left rowspan=2 Subaru17341413RetRetRet11154Ret122
2Ret7575Ret64Ret677Ret654
4align=left rowspan=2 Peugeot54262DSQRet2Ret1Ret4Ret542Ret101
65Ret85DSQ3Ret5Ret566RetRetRet2
5align=left rowspan=2 nowrap Mitsubishi96Ret7RetRet5Ret66Ret17
10RetRetRetRetRetRet7RetRetRet
ManufacturerMON
SWE
MEX
NZL
CYP
GRE
TUR
ARG
FIN
GER
JPN
GBR
ITA
FRA
ESP
AUS
Points
Sources:

JWRC Drivers' championship

DriverMON
GRE
TUR
FIN
GBR
ITA
ESP
 Pts 
1align=left nowrap Per-Gunnar Andersson8Ret11Ret1239
2 Nicolas Bernardi12Ret3Ret6137
3 Guy WilksRet13Ret12Ret34
4 Kosti KatajamäkiRetRet2234531
5 Mirco Baldacci6Ret64Ret3323
6 Larry Cols54Ret6Ret5421
7 Kris Meeke3RetRetRet27619
8 Urmo Aava2Ret55RetRetRet16
9 Xavi PonsRet3Ret75RetRet12
10 Alessandro Broccoli4RetRetRetRet887
11 Oliver MarshallRet58RetRetRetRet5
12 Guerlain ChicheritRetRet4RetRetRetRet5
13 Jari-Matti LatvalaRetRetRet4RetRet95
14 Alan ScorcioniRetRetRetRet71074
15 Luca Cecchettini7RetRet8RetRet3
16 Luca BettiRetRetRetRet6Ret103
17 Conrad RautenbachRetRet7RetRetRet112
18 Luca TabatonRetRetRet8RetRetRet1
- Mathieu Biasion9RetRet9RetRet-
- Natalie BarrattRetRetRet10Ret9Ret-
- Abdo FeghaliRet-
DriverMON
GRE
TUR
FIN
GBR
ITA
ESP
Pts

PWRC Drivers' championship

DriverSWE
MEX
NZL
ARG
GER
FRA
AUS
 Pts 
1 Niall McShea3Ret422335
2 Toshihiro AraiRet25Ret4230
3 Jani Paasonen1Ret415Ret29
4align=left nowrap Xavier Pons1556Ret11127
5 Alister McRae2Ret333Ret26
6 Manfred StohlRetRet1210Ret18
7 Nasser Al-Attiyah7Ret737517
8 Daniel Solà31RetRetRetRet16
9 Fumio Nutahara6Ret Ret Ret 5413
10 Tomasz Kuchar4Ret Ret 68
11 Karamjit Singh1048Ret6Ret8
12 Marcos LigatoRetRet2RetRetRet8
13 Sebastian Vollak13RetRet71066
14 Sergio Fombona8Ret95RetRet5
15 Fabio Frisiero14Ret7Ret975
16 Mark HigginsRetRetRetRet4Ret5
17 Gianluigi Galli5RetRetRetRetRet4
18 Georgi Geradzhiev111068RetRet4
19 Ricardo Triviño12711Ret983
20 Joakim Roman98RetRetRet1
DriverSWE
MEX
NZL
ARG
GER
FRA
AUS
Pts

Events

ColourRally Surface
GoldGravel
SilverTarmac
BlueSnow/Ice
BronzeMixed Surface
RoundRally namePodium finishersStatistics
RankDriverCarTimeStagesLength StartersFinishers
1 Monte Carlo Rally
(23–25 January) — Results and report
1Citroën Xsara WRC4:12:03.015389.12 km4320
2Ford Focus RS WRC 034:13:15.6
3Ford Focus RS WRC 034:13:22.6
2 Swedish Rally
(6–8 February) — Results and report
1Citroën Xsara WRC3:26:17.719394.80 km7049
2nowrapPeugeot 307 WRC3:27:04.1
3nowrapSubaru Impreza WRC 20033:27:39.2
3 Rally Mexico
(12–14 March) — Results and report
1Ford Focus RS WRC 034:06:46.215394.43 km5426
2Ford Focus RS WRC 034:07:28.7
3Citroën Xsara WRC4:08:07.1
4 Rally New Zealand
(15–18 April) — Results and report
1Subaru Impreza WRC 20044:02:29.523395.50 km5835
2Peugeot 307 WRC4:02:35.4
3Ford Focus RS WRC 044:02:55.1
5 Cyprus Rally
(14–16 May) — Results and report
1Citroën Xsara WRC4:58:44.518326.68 km3721
2Ford Focus RS WRC 044:59:38.5
3Citroën Xsara WRC4:59:53.6
6 Acropolis Rally
(3–6 June) — Results and report
1Subaru Impreza WRC 20044:39:06.222377.13 km7233
2Citroën Xsara WRC4:39:24.6
3Peugeot 307 WRC4:39:34.5
7 Rally of Turkey
(24–27 June) — Results and report
1Citroën Xsara WRC4:48:26.817383.33 km6332
2Peugeot 307 WRC4:48:53.0
3Subaru Impreza WRC 20044:49:03.5
8 Rally Argentina
(15–18 July) — Results and report
1Citroën Xsara WRC4:23:11.126376.65 km6929
2Citroën Xsara WRC4:24:43.5
3Ford Focus RS WRC 044:27:34.5
9 Rally Finland
(6–8 August) — Results and report
1Peugeot 307 WRC3:07:16.122382.17 km6834
2Ford Focus RS WRC 043:07:50.8
3Citroën Xsara WRC3:09:00.6
10 Rallye Deutschland
(20–22 August) — Results and report
1Citroën Xsara WRC4:01:57.424411.06 km6941
2Ford Focus RS WRC 044:02:26.5
3Citroën Xsara WRC4:03:06.9
11 Rally Japan
(3–5 September) — Results and report
1Subaru Impreza WRC 20043:43:50.627386.68 km8353
2Citroën Xsara WRC3:45:03.9
3Ford Focus RS WRC 043:45:33.9
12 Wales Rally GB
(16–19 September) — Results and report
1Subaru Impreza WRC 20043:42:39.519394.03 km8342
2Citroën Xsara WRC3:42:45.8
3Ford Focus RS WRC 043:45:33.2
13 Rally d'Italia Sardegna
(1–3 October) — Results and report
1Subaru Impreza WRC 20044:43:47.919383.23 km6729
2Citroën Xsara WRC4:45:55.8
3Citroën Xsara WRC4:47:08.8
14 Tour de Corse
(15–17 October) — Results and report
1 Markko MärtinFord Focus RS WRC 044:11:51.412387.80 km5335
2Citroën Xsara WRC4:13:53.4
3Citroën Xsara WRC4:14:46.7
15 Rally Catalunya
(29–31 October) — Results and report
1 Markko MärtinFord Focus RS WRC 043:40:43.820384.08 km5236
2Peugeot 307 WRC3:41:07.0
3Citroën Xsara WRC3:41:21.5
16 Rally Australia
(11–14 November) — Results and report
1 Sébastien LoebCitroën Xsara WRC3:39:46.825388.25 km6229
2Peugeot 307 WRC3:41:41.9
3Ford Focus RS WRC 043:43:27.0

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Season 2004 – Championship standings. Jonkka's World Rally Archive. 8 April 2024.
  2. Web site: FIA World Rally Championship Standings 2004. Motorsport Stats. 8 April 2024.
  3. Web site: Martin's Tour de Corse win hands WRC title to Loeb. Motorsport.com. 20 October 2004. 8 April 2024.