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31st season of the FIA World Rally Championship
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 .
The 2003 championship was contested over fourteen rounds in Europe, Asia, South America and Oceania.
Rd.
Start date
Finish date
Rally
Rally headquarters
Surface
Stages
Distance
Support class
1
23 January
24 January
71st Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo
Mixed
14
415.02 km
JWRC
2
7 February
9 February
52nd Uddeholm Swedish Rally
Karlstad , Värmland County
Snow
17
386.91 km
PWRC
3
27 February
2 March
4th Rally of Turkey
Kemer, Antalya Province
Gravel
18
338.24 km
JWRC
4
10 April
13 April
34th Propecia Rally New Zealand
Manukau, Auckland
Gravel
22
403.34 km
PWRC
5
8 May
11 May
23rd YPF Rally Argentina
Carlos Paz, Córdoba
Gravel
25
402.35 km
PWRC
6
5 June
8 June
50th Golden Acropolis Rally
Lamia, Central Greece
Gravel
22
399.49 km
JWRC
7
20 June
23 June
31st Cyprus Rally
Lemesos, Limassol District
Gravel
18
341.05 km
PWRC
8
25 July
27 July
22nd ADAC Rallye Deutschland
Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate
Tarmac
22
388.23 km
PWRC
9
7 August
10 August
53rd Neste Rally Finland
Jyväskylä, Central Finland
Gravel
23
409.18 km
JWRC
10
4 September
7 September
16th Telstra Rally Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Gravel
24
386.31 km
PWRC
11
3 October
5 October
45th Rallye Sanremo - Rallye d'Italia
Sanremo, Liguria
Tarmac
14
387.36 km
JWRC
12
17 October
19 October
47th Tour de Corse - Rallye de France
Ajaccio, Corsica
Tarmac
16
397.40 km
PWRC
13
24 October
26 October
39th Rally Catalunya - Costa Brava - Rally de España
Lloret de Mar , Catalonia
Tarmac
22
381.18 km
JWRC
14
6 November
9 November
59th Wales Rally GB
Cardiff, Wales
Gravel
18
376.81 km
JWRC
Sources: [ 1]
The Safari Rally Kenya was dropped from the calendar for 2003 due to missed fee payments from previous WRC seasons and was replace by the Rally of Turkey. After the 2002 Kenyan general election , the new government pushed for the Rally to return to the calendar and was looking at replacing Rally Australia after the event was called into question by FIA President Max Mosley due to organisational and safety issues.[ 2] [ 3] Eventually Rally Australia would go ahead and the Safari Rally Kenya would not return to the WRC calendar until 2021 .[ 4]
Manufacturer teams
Team
Manufacturer
Car
Tyre
No
Drivers
Co-drivers
Rounds
Marlboro Peugeot Total
Peugeot
206 WRC
M
1
Marcus Grönholm
Timo Rautiainen
All
2
Richard Burns
Robert Reid
1–13
Freddy Loix
Sven Smeets
14
3
Gilles Panizzi
Hervé Panizzi
1, 8, 11–13
Harri Rovanperä
Risto Pietiläinen
2–7, 9–10, 14
21
Gilles Panizzi
Hervé Panizzi
6–7, 14
Ford Motor Co Ltd
Ford
Focus RS WRC 02
M
4
Markko Märtin
Michael Park
1–3
Focus RS WRC 03
4–14
Focus RS WRC 02
5
François Duval
Jean-Marc Fortin
1–2
Stéphane Prévot
3
Focus RS WRC 03
4–14
Focus RS WRC 02
6
Mikko Hirvonen
Jarmo Lehtinen
All
20
Jari-Matti Latvala
Carl Williamson
6
Miikka Anttila
8–9, 14
555 Subaru World Rally Team
Subaru
Impreza WRC 2003
P
7
Petter Solberg
Phil Mills
All
8
Tommi Mäkinen
Kaj Lindström
All
Hyundai World Rally Team
Hyundai
Accent WRC3
M
10
Armin Schwarz
Manfred Hiemer
1–10
11
Freddy Loix
Sven Smeets
1–10
12
Jussi Välimäki
Tero Gardemeister
2, 4, 6, 9
Justin Dale
Andrew Bargery
7
Manfred Stohl
Ilka Minor
8
20
6, 10
22
Justin Dale
Andrew Bargery
8, 10
Škoda Motorsport
Škoda
Octavia WRC Evo3 Fabia WRC
M
14
Didier Auriol
Denis Giraudet
All
15
Toni Gardemeister
Paavo Lukander
All
22
Matthias Kahle
Peter Göbel
8
26
Jan Kopecký
Filip Schovánek
8, 14
32
Gabriel Pozzo
Daniel Stillo
5
Citroën Total
Citroën
Xsara WRC
M
17
Colin McRae
Derek Ringer
All
18
Sébastien Loeb
Daniel Elena
All
19
Carlos Sainz
Marc Martí
All
20
Philippe Bugalski
Jean-Paul Chiaroni
8, 11–13
25
Daniel Solà
Álex Romaní
6, 14
Major entries not registered as manufacturers
Team
Manufacturer
Car
Drivers
Rounds
Bozian Racing
Peugeot
206 WRC
Cédric Robert
Gérald Bedon
1, 8, 11–13
Gilles Panizzi
Herve Panizzi
3
Roman Kresta
Miloš Hůlka
1–2, 6
Jan Tománek
8, 11, 13–14
Juuso Pykälistö
Esko Mertsalmi
2–3, 6–7, 9
Risto Mannisenmäki
14
Ari Vatanen
Juha Repo
9
Stohl Racing
Manfred Stohl
Ilka Minor
4, 12, 14
Peugeot Sport Finland
Sebastian Lindholm
Timo Hantunen
9
Team BSA
Alexandre Bengue
Caroline Escudero
12
AW Rally Team
Ford
Focus RS WRC
Antony Warmbold
Gemma Price
1–2, 4–10, 12–14
LPM Racing
Janne Tuohino
Jukka Aho
2, 9
Kuchar Team Poland
Tomasz Kuchar
Maciek Szczepaniak
2, 4, 6
Wrüth Sport
Jari Viita
Teppo Leino
2
Riku Rousku
9
Ford Motor Hellas
Ioannis Papadimitriou
Allan Harryman
2, 6
Armodios Vovos
Loris Meletopoulos
6
OMV Best Racing Team
Balázs Benik
Bence Rácz
3, 10
Ford Hazirkart Rally Team
Serkan Yazici
Can Okan
3
ADR Motorsport
Alistair Ginley
Rory Kennedy
3, 6–9, 12–14
Dom Buckley Motorsport
Subaru
Impreza WRC
Eamonn Boland
Francis Regan
1, 14
Morgan Motorsport
Tapio Laukkanen
Harri Kaapro
14
Mitsubishi Ralliart Europe
Mitsubishi
Lancer Evo WRC2
Kristian Sohlberg
Jakke Honkanen
2, 4, 8
Alister McRae
David Senior
4
Jani Paasonen
Arto Kapanen
8
No
Entrant
Drivers
Co-driver
Car
Rounds
51
Purity Auto
Mirco Baldacci
Giovanni Bernacchini
Fiat Punto S1600
1, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13–14
52
Suzuki Sport
Daniel Carlsson
Mattias Andersson
Suzuki Ignis S1600
1, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13–14
64
Ville-Pertti Teuronen
Harri Kaapro
1, 3, 6, 9, 11
Mikko Markkula
13–14
69
Salvador Cañellas
Xavier Amigó
1, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13–14
71
Urmo Aava
Kuldar Sikk
1, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13–14
53
Schmidt Racing
David Doppelreiter
Ola Fløene
Peugeot 206 S1600
1
54
Volkswagen Racing
Kosti Katajamäki
Miikka Anttila
Volkswagen Polo S1600
1, 3, 6
Jani Laaksonen
9, 11, 13–14
62
Oscar Svedlund
Björn Nilsson
1, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13–14
73
Krum Donchev
Ruman Manolov
14
78
Vladan Vasiljevic
Sebastian Geipel
1, 3, 6, 11
55
Ford Motor Co Ltd
Martin Stenshorne
Clive Jenkins
Ford Puma S1600
1, 3, 6
70
Guy Wilks
Phil Pugh
1, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13–14
57
Auto Sport Italia
Dimitar Iliev
Petar Sivov
Peugeot 206 S1600
1, 3, 6
Yanaki Yanakiev
9, 11, 13–14
73
Krum Donchev
Ruman Manolov
1, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13
58
Top Run SRL
Marcos Ligato
Rubén Garcia
Fiat Punto S1600
1, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13–14
63
Massimo Ceccato
Mitia Dotta
1, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13–14
76
Luca Cecchettini
Marco Muzzarelli
1, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13–14
59
Astra Racing
Beppo Harrach
Michael Kölbach
Ford Puma S1600
1, 3, 6, 11, 14
65
Abdo Feghali
Joseph Matar
1, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13–14
60
Jolly Club
Pavel Valoušek
Pierangelo Scalvini
Citroën Saxo S1600
1, 3
61
Renault Sport
Brice Tirabassi
Jacques-Julien Renucci
Renault Clio S1600
1, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13–14
66
Citroën Sport
Sébastien Ceccone
Julien Giroux
Citroën Saxo S1600
1, 3, 6
67
Sab Motorsport
Alessandro Broccoli
Simona Girelli
Opel Corsa S1600
1, 3, 6, 9, 11
Giovanni Agnese
13–14
68
Renault Croatia
Juraj Šebalj
Toni Klinc
Renault Clio S1600
1, 3, 6
72
Errepi Racing
Jader Vagnini
Lorenzo Granai
Fiat Punto S1600
1
74
Opel Motorsport
Kris Meeke
Chris Patterson
Opel Corsa S1600
1, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13–14
75
Orlen Team
Dariusz Chudobinski
Przemysław Szulc
Citroën Saxo S1600
1
77
Chicco d'Oro
Filippo Suessli
Loris Pala
Fiat Punto S1600
1
78
Peugeot Dealer Team Sweden
Vladan Vasiljevic
Sebastian Geipel
Peugeot 206 S1600
9
No
Entrant
Drivers
Co-driver
Car
Rounds
51
Petronas EON Racing Team
Karamjit Singh
Allen Oh
Proton Pert
2, 4–5, 7–8, 10
52
Mauro Rally Tuning
Daniel Solà
Álex Romaní
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII
12
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII
4–5, 7–8, 10
53
Ramón Ferreyros
Javier Marin
5, 8, 12
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI
4, 7, 10
56
Gustavo Trelles
Jorge Del Buono
4
57
Giovanni Manfrinato
Claudio Condotta
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII
7–8, 10
54
Subaru Production Rally Team
Toshihiro Arai
Tony Sircombe
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
2, 4–5, 7, 10, 12
62
Peter 'Possum' Bourne
Mark Stacey
2, 4
55
David Sutton Cars Ltd
Martin Rowe
Trevor Agnew
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
2, 4, 7–8, 10, 12
65
Stig Blomqvist
Ana Goñi
2, 4, 7–8, 10, 12
57
Top Run SRL
Giovanni Manfrinato
Claudio Condotta
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI
4–5
58
Marcos Ligato
Rubén Garcia
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII
4–5, 7–8, 10, 12
59
Stefano Marrini
Massimo Agotinelli
2, 5, 7–8
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI
10, 12
63
Luca Baldini
Alessandro Floris
2, 4–5
60
Neil Allport Motorsports
Niall McShea
Chris Patterson
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI
4–5, 7–8, 10, 12
61
Mobil 1 Team Poland
Janusz Kulig
Jarosław Baran
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI
2, 4
Dariusz Burkat
7–8
Maciek Szczepaniak
10, 12
64
Millbrooks World Rally Team
Joakim Roman
Tina Mitakidou
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI
2, 4, 7–8
Ragnar Spjuth
10, 12
66
Stohl Racing
Hamed Al Wahaibi
Nicky Beech
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII
4–5
72
Constantin Aur
Silviu Moraru
2
Adrian Berghea
4, 7–8, 10, 12
67
Orlen Team
Krzysztof Hołowczyc
Łukasz Kurzeja
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII
2, 4–5, 7–8
68
Kuchar Team Poland
Tomasz Kuchar
Maciek Szczepaniak
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI
–
69
Guy Colsoul Rallysport
Bob Colsoul
Tom Colsoul
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII
2, 5, 7–8, 12
77
Alfredo De Dominicis
Giovanni Bernacchini
5
70
Errani Team Group
Riccardo Errani
Stefano Casadio
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI
4–5, 7–8, 10, 12
71
Racing Team Burgaltabac
Georgi Geradzhiev
Nikola Popov
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI
2, 4–5, 7–8, 12
73
Hanácký Rally Klub
Stanislav Chovanec
Karel Holaň
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII
2
74
Motoring Club
Fabio Frisiero
Loris Roggia
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI
2
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII
4–5
Giovanni Agnese
7–8, 12
75
PK7 Competicio
Joaquim Manresa
Miquel Amblás
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI
–
76
Subaru Rally Team Canada
Patrick Richard
Martin Headland
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
2
Mikael Johansson
4–5, 7
Ola Fløene
8, 12
77
Ralliart Italy
Alfredo De Dominicis
Giovanni Bernacchini
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI
2, 5, 7–8, 12
78
First Motorsport
Łukasz Sztuka
Per Carlsson
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI
2
Zbigniew Cieslar
4–5, 8
79
Advan-Piaa Rally Team
Fumio Nutahara
Satoshi Hayashi
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII
–
80
Triviño Racing
Ricardo Triviño
Jordi Barradés
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII
2, 4–5, 7–8, 12
Results and standings [ edit ]
The highest finishing competitor entered in each WRC class is listed below. Non-championship entries may have finished ahead of WRC competitors in individual rounds.
Drivers' championship[ edit ]
Key
Colour
Result
Gold
Winner
Silver
2nd place
Bronze
3rd place
Green
Points finish
Blue
Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple
Did not finish (Ret)
Black
Excluded (EX)
Disqualified (DSQ)
White
Did not start (DNS)
Cancelled (C)
Blank
Withdrew entry from the event (WD)
Manufacturers' championship[ edit ]
Manufacturer Teams must enter at least two cars.[ 7] 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.
Key
Colour
Result
Gold
Winner
Silver
2nd place
Bronze
3rd place
Green
Points finish
Blue
Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple
Did not finish (Ret)
Black
Excluded (EX)
Disqualified (DSQ)
White
Did not start (DNS)
Cancelled (C)
Blank
Withdrew entry from the event (WD)
Citroën secured the manufacturers' championship in Wales,[ 8] its first such title.[ 9]
Results in "()" means the car finished the rally, but two others of the same Manufacturer Team reached a better result.
JWRC Drivers' championship[ edit ]
Key
Colour
Result
Gold
Winner
Silver
2nd place
Bronze
3rd place
Green
Points finish
Blue
Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple
Did not finish (Ret)
Black
Excluded (EX)
Disqualified (DSQ)
White
Did not start (DNS)
Cancelled (C)
Blank
Withdrew entry from the event (WD)
PWRC Drivers' championship[ edit ]
Key
Colour
Result
Gold
Winner
Silver
2nd place
Bronze
3rd place
Green
Points finish
Blue
Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple
Did not finish (Ret)
Black
Excluded (EX)
Disqualified (DSQ)
White
Did not start (DNS)
Cancelled (C)
Blank
Withdrew entry from the event (WD)