 70E Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo 2002 review.
Story by Andrew Frampton.
Barely two months have passed since the climax of the 2001 World Rally Championship, which saw Richard Burns become the first English champion. The crews were back out in force in Monte Carlo, vying for victory on the first event of the season. After nearly a centenary of rallies at possibly the most famous venue of them all, on the mountain roads of Monaco, there was none of the customary snow this season.
Following numerous pre-season driver changes, the first stage would give the rally world its first insight into who had adapted best to their new machine. Tommi Makinen soon got to grips with his Subaru, but could only set second fastest time through SS1, behind the more experienced pairing of Carlos Sainz and his Ford Focus. Colin McRae was third fastest, while Richard Burns was eighth, lucky to still be in the event after running off the road halfway through the stage. He had, however, fared better than two of the pre-event favourites - the Citroens of Philippe Bugalski and Tomas Radstrom not even making it to the first stage - engine failure halting the cars on the first road section.
Sainz's lead would only last one more stage, before power steering failure saw him spiral down the leaderboard. Cue Tommi Makinen to take the lead, the four-time Monte winner setting second fastest time through SS3, behind team-mate Petter Solberg. The remaining Citroen, in the hands of young Frenchman Sebastien Loeb, was in fourth at this point, but by setting the fastest time on SS4 - 18 seconds faster than anyone else - last year's 1600cc class victor moved to the top of the leaderboard.
Fastest time over the day's final stage ensured a 36 second overnight advantage for Loeb. Having lost time through the dark stages, Makinen had dropped to second, but was ahead of a good battle for third. Colin McRae held the advantage overnight, six seconds ahead of Marcus Gronholm's Peugeot and a further seven clear of his Ford team-mate Sainz. Despite a damaging spin on SS4, Solberg held sixth ahead of the unimpressive Richard Burns who was struggling with his new Peugeot. Francois Delecour and Alister McRae were also gaining experience in their new cars, ending the day in 8th and 12th positions respectively. The private Peugeot of Harri Rovanpera and the two works Skodas of Toni Gardemiester and Roman Kresta separated the Mitsubishi pairing. There was no sign of Hyundai on the leaderboard though, Freddy Loix hitting a bridge parapet in fifth gear, writing off the car and injuring his foot, while one stage later, on SS4, Armin Schwarz slid off on ice.
Loeb erred on the side of caution on the opening stage of the second leg, only fourth quickest through Villars Sur Val, losing 1.5 seconds to Makinen. However, the Frenchman was soon into his stride, setting the fastest time on SS7, in what developed into a duel at the top of the leaderboard. Following Solberg's fastest time on the opening stage, the remainder were shared between the Citroen of Loeb and the Subaru of Makinen, the Finn reducing his overnight deficit from 36 seconds to just over 28 seconds by the end of the second day.
Just less than two minutes back in third, and now seemingly out of the hunt for victory was Carlos Sainz, who snatched the position from Gronholm on the day's final stage. However, the Finn had not given up hope of a podium finish, only four seconds behind the Spaniard. Colin McRae, seemingly devoid of some of the magic that had been evident in his first day showing, had dropped to fifth, 30 seconds behind Gronholm. Solberg was still sixth despite another day that saw him hindered by numerous problems, and he was now 45 seconds behind McRae. Burns still held seventh, but was coming under pressure from Peugeot team-mate Gilles Panizzi.
The Frenchman was one of the pre-event favourites, and without a 2m 10sec penalty earned on the first road section when his car wouldn't start, he would have been challenging the top three. As it was, he was eighth - comfortably ahead of Delecour and Gardemiester. Bruno Thiry had progressed up to eleventh in his private Peugeot thanks to the demise of Rovanpera and Kresta. Rovanpera retired with broken suspension, while the latter was out after seemingly confusing his Skoda with the bus from the Italian Job - only a telegraph pole stopped his Octavia from toppling down a ravine!
Before the final day of action had begun, the Citroen team was rocked by the news that Loeb was to be given a two minute time penalty. It was revealed that the tyres on the Frenchman's Xsara WRC were changed in the final 're-fuelling only' service, contravening the rally rules. The Citroen team automatically appealed meaning Loeb would remain atop the leaderboard, with the appeal hanging over him. Receiving news of the penalty, Makinen seemed content to cruise to second, and leave the matter to the courts. Loeb, meanwhile, had to drive at the limit, both to keep his lead over Makinen, and if the penalty stood, to keep a margin over the remainder of the field.
However, a spin on the day's first stage saw Makinen eat into Loeb's overnight lead, which now stood at only 18 seconds. However, Makinen had decided not to press for the lead and was slower than Loeb through each of the remaining stages, even though the Frenchman spun again on SS14.
Despite the lack of snow, the Monte had once again been a gruelling event, and in only his second rally for the Citroen team, Loeb took a provisional victory in emphatic style, the winning margin 45.9 seconds. If Citroen lose their appeal, Makinen will claim the win - his second position on the road, in his opinion guaranteed him his fourth Monte Carlo victory. Loeb seemed indifferent to the threat of a penalty, claiming he was not in the race for the title, so the points didn't matter! Sainz held on to complete the podium, only 1.6 seconds shy of the two minute barrier that could have cost Loeb an extra position. Colin McRae battled with Marcus Gronholm on the final day, moving ahead of the Finn on the day's first stage, he held on to take fourth position.
Back in sixth position Solberg, like Loeb, had taken five fastest stage times, but a catalogue of problems hindered the young Norwegian's chances. Solberg set the fastest times on the final two stages of the event, holding off Gilles Panizzi each time. Had it not been for his time penalty incurred on the opening road section, he would have been on the podium. A disappointed Burns ended his first event for Peugeot with eighth position, one place ahead of Delecour. Toni Gardemiester took tenth in his first event for Skoda, while team-mate Kenneth Eriksson took 13th. They were split by Thiry and the Ford of Markko Martin, while Alister McRae took 14th.
From Monte Carlo, the teams move to the snow covered roads of Sweden.
PROVISIONAL RESULT:
1. Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (Citroen)
2. Tommi Makinen/Kaj Lindstrom (Subaru) +45.9s
3. Carlos Sainz/Luis Moya (Ford) +2m01.6s
4. Colin McRae/Nicky Grist (Ford) +2m43.9s
5. Marcus Gronholm/Timo Rautiainen (Peugeot) +2m53.3s
6. Petter Solberg/Phil Mills (Subaru) +3m15.5s
7. Gilles Panizzi/Herve Panizzi (Peugeot) +4m06.0s
8. Richard Burns/Robert Reid (Peugeot) +5m02.3s
9. Francois Delecour/Daniel Grataloup (Mitsubishi) +6m21.6s
10. Toni Gardemiester/Pavel Lukander (Skoda) +7m28.3s
DRIVERS STANDINGS:
1. Sebastien Loeb 10pts*
2. Tommi Makinen 6pts*
3. Carlos Sainz 4pts
4. Colin McRae 3pts
5. Marcus Gronholm 2pts
6. Petter Solberg 1pt
*Subject to an appeal
MANUFACTURER'S STANDINGS:
1. Subaru 12pts
2. Ford 10pts
3. Peugeot 4pts
Since writing this article, Citroen have dropped the appeal, handing Tommi Makinen the victory in his Subaru. The results now look like this:
RESULT:
1. Tommi Makinen/Kaj Lindstrom (Subaru)
2. Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (Citroen)
3. Carlos Sainz/Luis Moya (Ford)
4. Colin McRae/Nicky Grist (Ford)
5. Marcus Gronholm/Timo Rautiainen (Peugeot)
6. Petter Solberg/Phil Mills (Subaru)
7. Gilles Panizzi/Herve Panizzi (Peugeot)
8. Richard Burns/Robert Reid (Peugeot)
9. Francois Delecour/Daniel Grataloup (Mitsubishi)
10. Toni Gardemiester/Pavel Lukander (Skoda)
DRIVERS STANDINGS:
1. Tommi Makinen 10pts
2. Sebastien Loeb 6pts
3. Carlos Sainz 4pts
4. Colin McRae 3pts
5. Marcus Gronholm 2pts
6. Petter Solberg 1pt
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