2003 Monte Carlo Rally

2003 Monte Carlo Rally
*71st Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo*
2003 Monte Carlo Rally; 71st Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo
Round 1 of the 2003 World Rally Championship season
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Host country	Monaco
Rally base	Monaco
Dates run	January 24, 2003 – January 26, 2003
Stages	14 (415.02 km; 257.88 miles)
Stage surface	Asphalt/snow
Overall distance	1,357.92 km (843.77 miles)
Results
Overall winner	Sébastien Loeb; Daniel Elena; Citroën Total
Crews	50 at start, 29 at finish

The 2003 Monte Carlo Rally (formally the 71st Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo) was the first round of the 2003 World Rally Championship. The race was held over three days between 24 and 26 January 2003, and was won by Citroën's Sébastien Loeb, his 2nd win in the World Rally Championship. ^[1]

Background[]

Entry list[]

No.	Driver	Co-Driver	Entrant	Car	Tyre
World Rally Championship manufacturer entries
1	Marcus Grönholm	Timo Rautiainen	Marlboro Peugeot Total	Peugeot 206 WRC	M
2	Richard Burns	Robert Reid	Marlboro Peugeot Total	Peugeot 206 WRC	M
3	Gilles Panizzi		Marlboro Peugeot Total	Peugeot 206 WRC	M
4	Markko Märtin	Michael Park	Ford Motor Co. Ltd.	Ford Focus RS WRC '02	M
5	François Duval		Ford Motor Co. Ltd.	Ford Focus RS WRC '02	M
6	Mikko Hirvonen	Jarmo Lehtinen	Ford Motor Co. Ltd.	Ford Focus RS WRC '02	M
7	Petter Solberg	Phil Mills	555 Subaru World Rally Team	Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03	P
8	Tommi Mäkinen	Kaj Lindström	555 Subaru World Rally Team	Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03	P
10	Armin Schwarz		Hyundai World Rally Team	Hyundai Accent WRC3	M
11	Freddy Loix	Sven Smeets	Hyundai World Rally Team	Hyundai Accent WRC3	M
14	Didier Auriol	Denis Giraudet	Škoda Motorsport	Škoda Octavia WRC Evo3	M
15	Toni Gardemeister	Paavo Lukander	Škoda Motorsport	Škoda Octavia WRC Evo3	M
17	Colin McRae	Derek Ringer	Citroën Total WRT	Citroën Xsara WRC	M
18	Sébastien Loeb	Daniel Elena	Citroën Total WRT	Citroën Xsara WRC	M
19	Carlos Sainz	Marc Martí	Citroën Total WRT	Citroën Xsara WRC	M
World Rally Championship entries
20			Equipe de France FFSA	Peugeot 206 WRC	M
21	Antony Warmbold		AW Rally Team	Ford Focus RS WRC '02	M
22	Roman Kresta		Bozian Racing	Peugeot 206 WRC	M
23				Subaru Impreza S5 WRC '99	P
101	Olivier Burri		Olivier Burri	Toyota Corolla WRC	P
102				Škoda Octavia WRC Evo2	P
103				Ford Focus RS WRC'01	P
104				Toyota Corolla WRC	P
105				Peugeot 206 WRC	M
JWRC entries
51	Mirco Baldacci			Fiat Punto S1600	M
52	Daniel Carlsson		Suzuki Sport	Suzuki Ignis S1600	M
54	Kosti Katajamäki	Miikka Anttila	Volkswagen Racing	Volkswagen Polo S1600	M
55			Ford Motor Co. Ltd.	Ford Puma S1600	M
57				Peugeot 206 S1600	M
58	Marcos Ligato		Top Run SRL	Fiat Punto S1600	M
59				Ford Puma S1600	M
61	Brice Tirabassi		Renault Sport	Renault Clio S1600	M
62			Volkswagen Racing	Volkswagen Polo S1600	M
63			Top Run SRL	Fiat Punto S1600	M
64			Suzuki Sport	Suzuki Ignis S1600	M
65				Ford Puma S1600	M
66			Citroën Total	Citroën Saxo S1600	M
67				Opel Corsa S1600	M
68	Juraj Šebalj		Renault Croatia	Renault Clio S1600	M
69			Suzuki Sport	Suzuki Ignis S1600	M
70	Guy Wilks		Ford Motor Co. Ltd.	Ford Puma S1600	M
71	Urmo Aava	Kuldar Sikk	Suzuki Sport	Suzuki Ignis S1600	M
73				Opel Corsa S1600	M
74	Kris Meeke	Chris Patterson	Opel Motorsport	Opel Corsa S1600	M
76			Top Run SRL	Fiat Punto S1600	M
78			Volkswagen Racing	Volkswagen Polo S1600	M
Source:^[2]

Itinerary[]

Date	Time	No.	Stage name	Distance
Leg 1 — 196.30 km
24 January	07:48	SS1	Prunières — Embrun 1	28.36 km
	09:21	SS2	Selonnet — Bréziers 1	22.52 km
	11:24	SS3	Prunières — Embrun 2	28.36 km
	12:57	SS4	Selonnet — Bréziers 2	22.52 km
	14:30	SS5	Plan de Vitrolles — Faye 1	47.27 km
	17:09	SS6	Plan de Vitrolles — Faye 2	47.27 km
Leg 2 — 114.52 km
25 January	08:33	SS7	Les 4 Chemins — Sigale 1	32.11 km
	09:31	SS8	St Antonin — Tourette du Château 1	25.15 km
	13:19	SS9	Les 4 Chemins — Sigale 2	32.11 km
	14:17	SS10	St Antonin — Tourette du Château 2	25.15 km
Leg 3 — 104.20 km
26 January	09:15	SS11	Sospel — Turini — La Bollène 1	32.58 km
	10:08	SS12	Lantosque — Lucéram 1	19.52 km
	12:35	SS13	Sospel — Turini — La Bollène 2	32.58 km
	13:28	SS14	Lantosque — Lucéram 2	19.52 km
Source:^[3]

Report[]

Overall[]

Pos.	No.	Driver	Co-driver	Team	Car	Time	Difference	Points
1	18	Sébastien Loeb	Daniel Elena	Citroën Total WRT	Citroën Xsara WRC	4:29:11.4		10
2	17	Colin McRae	Derek Ringer	Citroën Total WRT	Citroën Xsara WRC	4:29:49.5	+38.1	8
3	19	Carlos Sainz	Marc Martí	Citroën Total WRT	Citroën Xsara WRC	4:30:03.6	+52.2	6
4	4	Markko Märtin	Michael Park	Ford Motor Co. Ltd.	Ford Focus RS WRC '02	4:30:06.9	+55.5	5
5	2	Richard Burns	Robert Reid	Marlboro Peugeot Total	Peugeot 206 WRC	4:32:27.9	+3:16.5	4
6	20			Equipe de France FFSA	Peugeot 206 WRC	4:34:28.1	+5:16.7	3
7	5	François Duval		Ford Motor Co. Ltd.	Ford Focus RS WRC '02	4:34:28.5	+5:17.1	2
8	10	Armin Schwarz		Hyundai World Rally Team	Hyundai Accent WRC3	4:35:53.7	+6:42.3	1

World Rally Cars[]

Classification[]

Position		No.	Driver	Co-driver	Entrant	Car	Time	Difference	Points
Event	Class	No.	Driver	Co-driver	Entrant	Car	Time	Difference	Points
1	1	18	Sébastien Loeb	Daniel Elena	Citroën Total WRT	Citroën Xsara WRC	4:29:11.4		10
2	2	17	Colin McRae	Derek Ringer	Citroën Total WRT	Citroën Xsara WRC	4:29:49.5	+38.1	8
3	3	19	Carlos Sainz	Marc Martí	Citroën Total WRT	Citroën Xsara WRC	4:30:03.6	+52.2	6
4	4	4	Markko Märtin	Michael Park	Ford Motor Co. Ltd.	Ford Focus RS WRC '02	4:30:06.9	+55.5	5
5	5	2	Richard Burns	Robert Reid	Marlboro Peugeot Total	Peugeot 206 WRC	4:32:27.9	+3:16.5	4
7	6	5	François Duval		Ford Motor Co. Ltd.	Ford Focus RS WRC '02	4:34:28.5	+5:17.1	2
8	7	10	Armin Schwarz		Hyundai World Rally Team	Hyundai Accent WRC3	4:35:53.7	+6:42.3	1
9	8	14	Didier Auriol	Denis Giraudet	Škoda Motorsport	Škoda Octavia WRC Evo3	4:36:25.2	+7:13.8	0
13	9	1	Marcus Grönholm	Timo Rautiainen	Marlboro Peugeot Total	Peugeot 206 WRC	5:02:43.2	+33:31.8	0
Retired SS9		3	Gilles Panizzi		Marlboro Peugeot Total	Peugeot 206 WRC	Driver ill		0
Retired SS9		6	Mikko Hirvonen	Jarmo Lehtinen	Ford Motor Co. Ltd.	Ford Focus RS WRC '02	Accident		0
Retired SS9		11	Freddy Loix	Sven Smeets	Hyundai World Rally Team	Hyundai Accent WRC3	Accident		0
Retired SS5		7	Petter Solberg	Phil Mills	555 Subaru World Rally Team	Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03	Accident		0
Retired SS5		8	Tommi Mäkinen	Kaj Lindström	555 Subaru World Rally Team	Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03	Accident		0
Retired SS2		15	Toni Gardemeister	Paavo Lukander	Škoda Motorsport	Škoda Octavia WRC Evo3	Engine		0

Special stages[]

Day	Stage	Stage name	Length	Winner	Car	Time	Class leaders
Leg 1 (24 Jan)	SS1	Prunières — Embrun 1	28.36 km	Marcus Grönholm	Peugeot 206 WRC	18:07.6	Marcus Grönholm
	SS2	Selonnet — Bréziers 1	22.52 km	Marcus Grönholm	Peugeot 206 WRC	16:00.3
	SS3	Prunières — Embrun 2	28.36 km	Sébastien Loeb	Citroën Xsara WRC	17:54.5
	SS4	Selonnet — Bréziers 2	22.52 km	Marcus Grönholm	Peugeot 206 WRC	15:33.7
	SS5	Plan de Vitrolles — Faye 1	47.27 km	Sébastien Loeb	Citroën Xsara WRC	28:54.9
	SS6	Plan de Vitrolles — Faye 2	47.27 km	Colin McRae Sébastien Loeb	Citroën Xsara WRC Citroën Xsara WRC	30:04.7
Leg 2 (25 Jan)	SS7	Les 4 Chemins — Sigale 1	32.11 km	Stage cancelled
	SS8	St Antonin — Tourette du Château 1	25.15 km	Sébastien Loeb	Citroën Xsara WRC	18:08.0
	SS9	Les 4 Chemins — Sigale 2	32.11 km	Sébastien Loeb	Citroën Xsara WRC	24:59.3	Sébastien Loeb
	SS10	St Antonin — Tourette du Château 2	25.15 km	Carlos Sainz	Citroën Xsara WRC	17:52.3
Leg 3 (26 Jan)	SS11	Sospel — Turini — La Bollène 1	32.58 km	Colin McRae	Citroën Xsara WRC	25:30.6
	SS12	Lantosque — Lucéram 1	19.52 km	Markko Märtin	Ford Focus RS WRC '02	14:09.4
	SS13	Sospel — Turini — La Bollène 2	32.58 km	Carlos Sainz	Citroën Xsara WRC	24:52.0
	SS14	Lantosque — Lucéram 2	19.52 km	Carlos Sainz	Citroën Xsara WRC	13:46.1

Championship standings[]

Pos.	Drivers' championships			Co-drivers' championships			Manufacturers' championships
Pos.	Move	Driver	Points	Move	Co-driver	Points	Move	Manufacturer	Points
1		Sébastien Loeb	10		Daniel Elena	10		Citroën Total WRT	18
2		Colin McRae	8		Derek Ringer	8		Ford Motor Co. Ltd.	10
3		Carlos Sainz	6		Marc Martí	6		Marlboro Peugeot Total	6
4		Markko Märtin	5		Michael Park	5		Hyundai World Rally Team	3
5		Richard Burns	4		Robert Reid	4		Škoda Motorsport	2

Junior World Rally Championship[]

Classification[]

Position		No.	Driver	Co-driver	Entrant	Car	Time	Difference	Points
Event	Class	No.	Driver	Co-driver	Entrant	Car	Time	Difference	Points
17	1	61	Brice Tirabassi		Renault Sport	Renault Clio S1600	5:12:36.1		10
18	2	58	Marcos Ligato		Top Run SRL	Fiat Punto S1600	5:17:52.8	+5:16.7	8
19	3	67				Opel Corsa S1600	5:21:12.9	+8:36.8	6
20	4	71	Urmo Aava	Kuldar Sikk	Suzuki Sport	Suzuki Ignis S1600	5:21:24.7	+8:48.6	5
21	5	63			Top Run SRL	Fiat Punto S1600	5:21:56.3	+9:20.2	4
22	6	68	Juraj Šebalj		Renault Croatia	Renault Clio S1600	5:25:00.0	+12:23.9	3
23	7	51	Mirco Baldacci			Fiat Punto S1600	5:27:49.9	+15:13.8	2
24	8	59				Ford Puma S1600	5:31:43.4	+19:07.3	1
25	9	76			Top Run SRL	Fiat Punto S1600	5:32:02.4	+19:26.3	0
26	10	65				Ford Puma S1600	5:33:17.7	+20:41.6	0
27	11	73				Opel Corsa S1600	5:35:25.5	+22:49.4	0
29	12	74	Kris Meeke	Chris Patterson	Opel Motorsport	Opel Corsa S1600	5:45:50.2	+33:14.1	0
Retired SS14		54	Kosti Katajamäki	Miikka Anttila	Volkswagen Racing	Volkswagen Polo S1600	Excluded - brakes		0
Retired SS14		55			Ford Motor Co. Ltd.	Ford Puma S1600	Accident		0
Retired SS14		62			Volkswagen Racing	Volkswagen Polo S1600	Accident		0
Retired SS13		64			Suzuki Sport	Suzuki Ignis S1600	Accident		0
Retired SS13		69			Suzuki Sport	Suzuki Ignis S1600	Driveshaft		0
Retired SS12		70	Guy Wilks		Ford Motor Co. Ltd.	Ford Puma S1600	Accident		0
Retired SS8		52	Daniel Carlsson		Suzuki Sport	Suzuki Ignis S1600	Excluded		0
Retired SS8		78			Volkswagen Racing	Volkswagen Polo S1600	Excluded		0
Retired SS3		57				Peugeot 206 S1600	Accident		0
Retired SS1		66			Citroën Total	Citroën Saxo S1600	Accident		0

Special stages[]

Day	Stage	Stage name	Length	Winner	Car	Time	Class leaders
Leg 1 (24 January)	SS1	Prunières — Embrun 1	28.36 km	Brice Tirabassi	Renault Clio S1600	21:16.2	Brice Tirabassi
	SS2	Selonnet — Bréziers 1	22.52 km	Daniel Carlsson	Suzuki Ignis S1600	18:12.2	Daniel Carlsson
	SS3	Prunières — Embrun 2	28.36 km	Mirco Baldacci	Fiat Punto S1600	20:26.1	Brice Tirabassi
	SS4	Selonnet — Bréziers 2	22.52 km	Daniel Carlsson	Suzuki Ignis S1600	17:43.2
	SS5	Plan de Vitrolles — Faye 1	47.27 km	Daniel Carlsson	Suzuki Ignis S1600	33:21.5
	SS6	Plan de Vitrolles — Faye 2	47.27 km	Daniel Carlsson	Suzuki Ignis S1600	34:51.6	Daniel Carlsson
Leg 2 (25 January)	SS7	Les 4 Chemins — Sigale 1	32.11 km	Stage cancelled			Daniel Carlsson
	SS8	St Antonin — Tourette du Château 1	25.15 km	Marcos Ligato	Fiat Punto S1600	19:52.5	Brice Tirabassi
	SS9	Les 4 Chemins — Sigale 2	32.11 km	Notional stage time
	SS10	St Antonin — Tourette du Château 2	25.15 km	Notional stage time
Leg 3 (26 January)	SS11	Sospel �� Turini — La Bollène 1	32.58 km	Brice Tirabassi	Renault Clio S1600	28:57.7
	SS12	Lantosque — Lucéram 1	19.52 km	Kosti Katajamäki	Volkswagen Polo S1600	15:48.7
	SS13	Sospel — Turini — La Bollène 2	32.58 km	Brice Tirabassi	Renault Clio S1600	28:01.1
	SS14	Lantosque — Lucéram 2	19.52 km	Mirco Baldacci	Fiat Punto S1600	15:42.4

Championship standings[]

Pos.	Drivers' championships
Pos.	Move	Driver	Points
1		Brice Tirabassi	10
2		Marcos Ligato	8
3			6
4		Urmo Aava	5
5			4

References[]

^ "Monte Carlo Rally". juwra.com. Independent WRC archive. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
^ "Rallye Monte-Carlo 2003 Entry List". Retrieved 29 October 2021.
^ "Rallye Monte-Carlo 2003 Itinerary". Retrieved 29 October 2021.

External links[]

Official website of the World Rally Championship

[2004-MonteCarlo1-1] "Monte Carlo Rally". juwra.com. Independent WRC archive. Retrieved 2021-10-29.

[rmcdrivers_2003-2] "Rallye Monte-Carlo 2003 Entry List". Retrieved 29 October 2021.

[rmc_2004-3] "Rallye Monte-Carlo 2003 Itinerary". Retrieved 29 October 2021.

[1]

[2]

[3]