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Peugeot celebrate their first 206WRC victory

Story by Peugeot: 14th February 2000

FIRST WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY FOR PEUGEOT 206 WRC

Swedish Rally February 11-13

In its first full year of competition, the Peugeot 206 world rally car (WRC) led from start to finish on the Swedish Rally to score its first victory in this year’s World Rally Championship.

The Peugeot 206 WRC was driven to victory by Marcus Gronholm and Timo Rautiainen who never lost the lead in spite of some exciting moments. The tension was high after Gronholm hit a stone and lost 10 valuable seconds on the third stage and another three seconds on the penultimate special stage, but he was still 16 seconds ahead going into the final timed stage of 21 kilometres (13 miles).

In spite of having to negotiate the freshly fallen snow, Gronholm secured a victory for Peugeot by finishing a full six seconds ahead of reigning world champion Tommi Makinen. The second 206 WRC driven by Francois Delecour and Daniel Gratalough finished in seventh place after a superb drive over the whole of the Swedish Rally.

Andrew Didlick, Peugeot’s Director of Public Relations said: "This victory confirms the capabilities of the 206 and Peugeot is back at the forefront of world rallying."