 Tour De Corse - Rallye De France 2002 preview.
Story by Andrew Frampton.
Although France's motorsport history is more commonly associated with Formula One, and the fact it held the first ever Formula 1 race in 1907, it also has a strong rallying base, with the third round of this season's World Rally Championship based on the Mediterranean Island of Corsica. The asphalt roads were last used on the WRC in the autumn as Citroen's Jesus Puras claimed victory in only his third event for the team. However, there are changes this season, most notably its position in the calendar as the event moves to the Spring. Despite its win here last year, the Citroen team have not chosen Corsica as one of their seven events this season.
Following his victory in Sweden, Marcus Gronholm leads the driver's championship, while a 1-2 finish for the Peugeot team, with Harri Rovanpera claiming second spot, have moved the team to the top of the manufacturers' standings. Richard Burns claimed fourth position in Sweden as he got his championship challenge off to a faltering start having failed to score in Monte Carlo. However, Peugeot's best chance of victory in Corsica is with Gilles Panizzi, the asphalt specialist, who takes over Rovanpera's Peugeot.
The Ford team doesn't have a good record on asphalt with the combination of the Ford Focus chassis and the Pirelli tyres making it unlikely that either Carlos Sainz or Colin McRae will be challenging for victory. Sainz has finished in third position on both events so far this season, and a repeat performance in Corsica would be a good result. McRae has taken a fourth and a sixth this season and the Scot will be hoping for another top six finish to aid his championship aspirations.
Tommi Makinen took victory in Monte Carlo on his first appearance for the Subaru team, after Sebastien Loeb's Citroen was docked time. However, the Finn failed to finish in Sweden after hitting a snowbank, losing his championship lead. Team-mate Petter Solberg performed well in Monte Carlo and was unlucky to claim only the one point for sixth position. He was aiming for another top ten finish in Sweden before an engine problem forced him out. Following their performances in Monte Carlo, the Subaru team could go well in Corsica.
The Mitsubishi team has had a mixed season so far, and with a car that has not performed well on asphalt in the past, the chances of a points finish are quite slim. Alister McRae took fifth in Sweden to open the team's points account this season, while Finn Jani Paasonen, who drove for the team on a one off outing, was unlucky to fall out of the top six after hitting a rock. Francois Delecour, the team No.1 driver, struggled in the snow on the back of an equally disappointing performance in Monte Carlo which saw the team come away empty-handed.
The Hyundai team have showed well in the opening two rounds of the series, despite the team's two top drivers Freddy Loix and Armin Schwarz as yet failing to finish an event. Loix was the hero in Sweden as he piloted his Accent into the top six on the first two days of the Swedish event, but was forced out with mechanical problems. He drove in Sweden with a broken foot following his event-ending accident in Monte Carlo when he hit a bridge. Although his foot is healing, the heavy braking in Corsica could have an effect on his performance. Schwarz ran well in Monte Carlo before spinning out, and set a fast time on the first stage in Sweden before falling off the road and into a snowbank. Juha Kankkunen brought his Accent home in 8th position in Sweden. Corsica should see the debut of the next generation Accent WR3 model, so expect it to go some!
Skoda have had a tough start to the 2002 season, although the Octavia has shown potential. Toni Gardemiester took tenth in Monte Carlo, while Kenneth Eriksson was on course for a points finish in Sweden before being cruelly denied by an overheating engine on the final stage. Stig Blomqvist piloted the third works car in Sweden and took 15th, while that car will be handed over to Roman Kresta for Corsica, who ended his last event for the team perched on the edge of a 300 foot ravine in Monte Carlo...
|
|
|
|
