2004 Wales Rally GB

2004 Wales Rally GB
*60th Wales Rally of Great Britain*
2004 Wales Rally GB; 60th Wales Rally of Great Britain
Round 12 of the 2004 World Rally Championship season
← Previous event	Next event →
Host country	Great Britain
Rally base	Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
Dates run	September 16, 2004 – September 19, 2004
Stages	19 (394.03 km; 244.84 miles)
Stage surface	Gravel
Overall distance	1,298.12 km (806.61 miles)
Results
Overall winner	Petter Solberg; Phil Mills; 555 Subaru World Rally Team; Subaru Impreza S10 WRC '04
Crews	83 at start, 42 at finish

The 2004 Wales Rally GB (formally the 60th Wales Rally of Great Britain) was a rallying autosports race held over four days between 16 and 19 September 2004 and operated out of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It was the twelfth round of the 2004 World Rally Championship (WRC) and the 60th running of the event. Contested over 19 stages, the rally was won by Subaru World Rally Team driver Petter Solberg. Sébastien Loeb finished second for the Citroën World Rally Team and Ford driver Markko Märtin came in third.^[1]

Report[]

Background[]

The 2004 Wales Rally GB was the twelfth round of the 2004 World Rally Championship (WRC) after taking a two-week break since the previous race of the season in Japan.^[2] It was held over four days from Thursday, 16 September to Sunday, 19 September 2004.^[3] The rally headquarters was set up in Cardiff but some stages of the rally were altered. One new place the rally went to was Epynt forest with parts of the Rhondda and Resolven combined to form a new stage. The stage in Rheola returned to the event but was revised to make it faster and the rally concluded in Cardiff instead of Margam Country Park the previous year.^[4] Before the event, Sébastien Loeb led the Drivers' Championship with 84 points, ahead of Petter Solberg in second and Markko Märtin third. Carlos Sainz was fourth on 50 points, and Marcus Grönholm was three points adrift in fifth.^[5] Citroën were leading the Manufacturers' Championship with 137 points; Ford stood in second on 102 points, 33 in front of Subaru. Peugeot were fourth on 73 points and Mitsubishi rounded out the top five with 17 points.^[5] Citroën had so far been the most successful team over the course of the season with Ford claiming one victory with Märtin in México and Subaru had taken three wins apiece.^[5]

With pressure from the South Wales Police who initiated a campaign against speeding, the rally was under threat from cancellation as several drivers had been observed exceeding the local speed limit in the 2002 event, and the world governing body of motorsport, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), announced it would investigate whether the roads were suitable for the large amount of rally traffic.^[6] On 12 December 2003 the Wales Rally GB was granted a provisional slot on the 2004 WRC calendar pending a formal road review by the Motor Sports Association (MSA) after the FIA chose not to downgrade the event which would have made the event illegible to count for championship points.^[7] Five towns in England were mooted as alternative bases in the event Wales was deemed unsuitable.^[8] The FIA president Max Mosley later held discussions with the chief constable of South Wales Police Barbara Wilding and the Secretary of State for Wales Peter Hain.^[9] At the FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris on 24 March, the MSA presented a traffic management report that confirmed the roads the rally used were safer than the national average. The council later confirmed that the rally would be given the go-ahead but would be monitored by FIA observers until its future as a championship round was secure.^[10]

87 crews registered to compete in the rally.^[11] The starting order for Leg 1 was "Priority 1" (P1) and P2 WRC drivers in the order of the current classification following the previous race of the 2004 season, followed by all other drivers as decided by the MSA. Solberg, the previous season's champion, set off first, followed by Loeb, then Sainz.^[12]

Entry list[]

No.	Driver	Co-Driver	Entrant	Car	Tyre
World Rally Championship manufacturer entries
1	Petter Solberg	Phil Mills	555 Subaru World Rally Team	Subaru Impreza S10 WRC '04	P
2	Mikko Hirvonen	Jarmo Lehtinen	555 Subaru World Rally Team	Subaru Impreza S10 WRC '04	P
3	Sébastien Loeb	Daniel Elena	Citroën Total WRT	Citroën Xsara WRC	M
4	Carlos Sainz	Marc Martí	Citroën Total WRT	Citroën Xsara WRC	M
5	Marcus Grönholm	Timo Rautiainen	Marlboro Peugeot Total	Peugeot 307 WRC	M
6	Harri Rovanperä	Risto Pietiläinen	Marlboro Peugeot Total	Peugeot 307 WRC	M
7	Markko Märtin	Michael Park	Ford Motor Co. Ltd.	Ford Focus RS WRC '04	M
8	François Duval	Stéphane Prévot	Ford Motor Co. Ltd.	Ford Focus RS WRC '04	M
World Rally Championship entries
11	Armin Schwarz		Škoda Motorsport	Škoda Fabia WRC	M
12	Toni Gardemeister	Paavo Lukander	Škoda Motorsport	Škoda Fabia WRC	M
14	Janne Tuohino		Janne Tuohino	Ford Focus RS WRC '02	M
15	Daniel Carlsson		Marlboro Peugeot Total	Peugeot 307 WRC	M
16	Manfred Stohl	Ilka Minor	Manfred Stohl	Peugeot 206 WRC	P
17	Henning Solberg	Cato Menkerud	Bozian Racing	Peugeot 206 WRC	M
18	Jani Paasonen		Škoda Motorsport	Škoda Fabia WRC	M
19	Alistair Ginley		Alistair Ginley	Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03	P
20	Antony Warmbold		Antony Warmbold	Ford Focus RS WRC '02	M
21	Mark Higgins		M-Sport	Ford Focus RS WRC '01	M
61	Nicolas Vouilloz	Denis Giraudet	Bozian Racing	Peugeot 206 WRC	M
62	Matthew Wilson	Scott Martin	M-Sport	Ford Focus RS WRC '02	M
63				Ford Focus RS WRC '02	N/A
64				Hyundai Accent WRC3	N/A
65				Hyundai Accent WRC	N/A
69				Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03	N/A
71	Constantin Aur			Škoda Octavia WRC Evo3	N/A
72				Seat Cordoba WRC	N/A
74	Jimmy McRae		Jimmy McRae	Subaru Impreza 555	N/A
83	Nigel Heath		Nigel Heath	Hyundai Accent WRC3	N/A
84				Hyundai Accent WRC3	N/A
105				Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII MR	N/A
JWRC entries
31	Mirco Baldacci		Suzuki Sport	Suzuki Ignis S1600	P
32	Urmo Aava	Kuldar Sikk	Suzuki Sport	Suzuki Ignis S1600	P
33	Guy Wilks		Suzuki Sport	Suzuki Ignis S1600	P
34				Fiat Punto S1600	P
35	Kosti Katajamäki		Suzuki Sport	Suzuki Ignis S1600	P
36	Kris Meeke	David Senior	McRae Motorsport	Opel Corsa S1600	P
37				Renault Clio S1600	P
39	Nicolas Bernardi		Renault Sport	Renault Clio S1600	P
40	Guerlain Chicherit	Mathieu Baumel	Citroën Total	Citroën Saxo S1600	P
41	Natalie Barratt			Renault Clio S1600	P
42				Renault Clio S1600	P
43	Jari-Matti Latvala	Miikka Anttila	Suzuki Sport	Suzuki Ignis S1600	P
44				Fiat Punto S1600	P
45	Per-Gunnar Andersson	Jonas Andersson	Suzuki Sport	Suzuki Ignis S1600	P
46	Xavier Pons			Fiat Punto S1600	P
47				Fiat Punto S1600	P
48	Conrad Rautenbach			Opel Corsa S1600	P
49	Luca Betti			Fiat Punto S1600	P
50				Renault Clio S1600	P
51			Renault Sport	Renault Clio S1600	P
Source:^[13]

Itinerary[]

Date	Time	No.	Stage name	Distance
Leg 1 — 183.31 km
16 September	19:05	SS1	Cardiff Super Special 1	2.45 km
17 September	07:13	SS2	Brechfa 1	29.98 km
	08:01	SS3	Trawscoed 1	27.97 km
	10:09	SS4	Brechfa 2	29.98 km
	10:57	SS5	Trawscoed 2	27.97 km
	14:28	SS6	Rheola 1	32.48 km
	17:34	SS7	Rheola 2	32.48 km
Leg 2 — 120.72 km
18 September	09:03	SS8	Crychan 1	13.45 km
	09:33	SS9	Epynt 1	13.33 km
	10:05	SS10	Halfway 1	18.58 km
	12:05	SS11	Crychan 2	13.45 km
	12:34	SS12	Epynt 2	13.33 km
	13:07	SS13	Halfway 2	18.58 km
	16:09	SS14	Margam 1	27.55 km
	17:54	SS15	Cardiff Super Special 2	2.45 km
Leg 3 — 90.00 km
19 September	07:43	SS16	Rhondda 1	30.00 km
	10:46	SS17	Rhondda 2	30.00 km
	12:05	SS18	Margam 2	27.55
	14:15	SS19	Cardiff Super Special 3	2.45 km
Source:^[14]

Results[]

Overall[]

Pos.	No.	Driver	Co-driver	Team	Car	Time	Difference	Points
1	1	Petter Solberg	Phil Mills	555 Subaru World Rally Team	Subaru Impreza S10 WRC '04	3:42:39.5		10
2	3	Sébastien Loeb	Daniel Elena	Citroën Total WRT	Citroën Xsara WRC	3:42:45.8	+6.3	8
3	7	Markko Märtin	Michael Park	Ford Motor Co. Ltd.	Ford Focus RS WRC '04	3:45:33.2	+2:53.7	6
4	4	Carlos Sainz	Marc Martí	Citroën Total WRT	Citroën Xsara WRC	3:46:21.6	+3:42.1	5
5	8	François Duval	Stéphane Prévot	Ford Motor Co. Ltd.	Ford Focus RS WRC '04	3:47:20.8	+4:41.3	4
6	6	Harri Rovanperä	Risto Pietiläinen	Marlboro Peugeot Total	Peugeot 307 WRC	3:49:24.4	+6:44.9	3
7	2	Mikko Hirvonen	Jarmo Lehtinen	555 Subaru World Rally Team	Subaru Impreza S10 WRC '04	3:49:47.8	+7:08.3	2
8	16	Manfred Stohl	Ilka Minor	Manfred Stohl	Peugeot 206 WRC	3:52:59.6	+10:20.1	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	1	Petter Solberg	Phil Mills	555 Subaru World Rally Team	Subaru Impreza S10 WRC '04	3:42:39.5		10
2	2	3	Sébastien Loeb	Daniel Elena	Citroën Total WRT	Citroën Xsara WRC	3:42:45.8	+6.3	8
3	3	7	Markko Märtin	Michael Park	Ford Motor Co. Ltd.	Ford Focus RS WRC '04	3:45:33.2	+2:53.7	6
4	4	4	Carlos Sainz	Marc Martí	Citroën Total WRT	Citroën Xsara WRC	3:46:21.6	+3:42.1	5
5	5	8	François Duval	Stéphane Prévot	Ford Motor Co. Ltd.	Ford Focus RS WRC '04	3:47:20.8	+4:41.3	4
6	6	6	Harri Rovanperä	Risto Pietiläinen	Marlboro Peugeot Total	Peugeot 307 WRC	3:49:24.4	+6:44.9	3
7	7	2	Mikko Hirvonen	Jarmo Lehtinen	555 Subaru World Rally Team	Subaru Impreza S10 WRC '04	3:49:47.8	+7:08.3	2
Retired SS10		5	Marcus Grönholm	Timo Rautiainen	Marlboro Peugeot Total	Peugeot 307 WRC	Accident damage		0

Special stages[]

Day	Stage	Stage name	Length	Winner	Car	Time	Class leaders
Leg 1 (16 Sep)	SS1	Cardiff Super Special 1	2.45 km	François Duval	Ford Focus RS WRC '04	2:06.5	François Duval
Leg 1 (17 Sep)	SS2	Brechfa 1	29.98 km	Sébastien Loeb	Citroën Xsara WRC	16:43.5	Sébastien Loeb
	SS3	Trawscoed 1	27.97 km	Sébastien Loeb	Citroën Xsara WRC	16:07.4
	SS4	Brechfa 2	29.98 km	Marcus Grönholm	Peugeot 307 WRC	17:18.1
	SS5	Trawscoed 2	27.97 km	Petter Solberg	Subaru Impreza S10 WRC '04	16:42.7
	SS6	Rheola 1	32.48 km	Petter Solberg	Subaru Impreza S10 WRC '04	18:13.0
	SS7	Rheola 2	32.48 km	Petter Solberg	Subaru Impreza S10 WRC '04	18:23.4
Leg 2 (18 Sep)	SS8	Crychan 1	13.45 km	Sébastien Loeb	Citroën Xsara WRC	7:29.1
	SS9	Epynt 1	13.33 km	François Duval	Ford Focus RS WRC '04	7:42.9
	SS10	Halfway 1	18.58 km	Sébastien Loeb	Citroën Xsara WRC	10:37.1
	SS11	Crychan 2	13.45 km	Petter Solberg	Subaru Impreza S10 WRC '04	7:32.8
	SS12	Epynt 2	13.33 km	François Duval	Ford Focus RS WRC '04	7:49.1
	SS13	Halfway 2	18.58 km	Petter Solberg	Subaru Impreza S10 WRC '04	10:45.1
	SS14	Margam 1	27.55 km	Petter Solberg	Subaru Impreza S10 WRC '04	15:06.4
	SS15	Cardiff Super Special 2	2.45 km	François Duval	Ford Focus RS WRC '04	2:07.1
Leg 3 (19 Sep)	SS16	Rhondda 1	30.00 km	Sébastien Loeb	Citroën Xsara WRC	15:08.6
	SS17	Rhondda 2	30.00 km	Petter Solberg	Subaru Impreza S10 WRC '04	14:51.1
	SS18	Margam 2	27.55	Petter Solberg	Subaru Impreza S10 WRC '04	15:06.7	Petter Solberg
	SS19	Cardiff Super Special 3	2.45 km	Markko Märtin	Ford Focus RS WRC '04	2:04.8	Petter Solberg

Championship standings[]

Pos.	Drivers' championships			Co-drivers' championships			Manufacturers' championships
Pos.	Move	Driver	Points	Move	Co-driver	Points	Move	Manufacturer	Points
1		Sébastien Loeb	92		Daniel Elena	92		Citroën Total WRT	150
2		Petter Solberg	64		Phil Mills	64		Ford Motor Co. Ltd.	112
3		Markko Märtin	59		Michael Park	59		555 Subaru World Rally Team	91
4		Carlos Sainz	55		Marc Martí	55		Marlboro Peugeot Total	76
5		Marcus Grönholm	47		Timo Rautiainen	47		Mitsubishi Motors	17

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
18	1	33	Guy Wilks		Suzuki Sport	Suzuki Ignis S1600	4:16:25.6		10
20	2	36	Kris Meeke	David Senior	McRae Motorsport	Opel Corsa S1600	4:18:26.2	+2:00.6	8
21	3	35	Kosti Katajamäki		Suzuki Sport	Suzuki Ignis S1600	4:19:05.1	+2:39.5	6
23	4	43	Jari-Matti Latvala	Miikka Anttila	Suzuki Sport	Suzuki Ignis S1600	4:26:13.4	+9:47.8	5
24	5	46	Xavier Pons			Fiat Punto S1600	4:29:24.6	+12:59.0	4
26	6	49	Luca Betti			Fiat Punto S1600	4:32:53.6	+16:28.0	3
32	7	44				Fiat Punto S1600	4:44:48.1	+28:22.5	2
34	8	47				Fiat Punto S1600	4:46:01.3	+29:35.7	1
Retired SS16		31	Mirco Baldacci		Suzuki Sport	Suzuki Ignis S1600	Accident		0
Retired SS11		45	Per-Gunnar Andersson	Jonas Andersson	Suzuki Sport	Suzuki Ignis S1600	Brakes		0
Retired SS9		41	Natalie Barratt			Renault Clio S1600	Engine		0
Retired SS8		34				Fiat Punto S1600	Engine		0
Retired SS8		50				Renault Clio S1600	Engine mounting		0
Retired SS8		51			Renault Sport	Renault Clio S1600	Excluded		0
Retired SS7		37				Renault Clio S1600	Steering		0
Retired SS7		39	Nicolas Bernardi		Renault Sport	Renault Clio S1600	Accident		0
Retired SS7		40	Guerlain Chicherit	Mathieu Baumel	Citroën Total	Citroën Saxo S1600	Accident		0
Retired SS6		42				Renault Clio S1600	Accident		0
Retired SS4		32	Urmo Aava	Kuldar Sikk	Suzuki Sport	Suzuki Ignis S1600	Accident		0
Retired SS2		48	Conrad Rautenbach			Opel Corsa S1600	Gearbox		0

Special stages[]

Day	Stage	Stage name	Length	Winner	Car	Time	Class leaders
Leg 1 (16 Sep)	SS1	Cardiff Super Special 1	2.45 km	Per-Gunnar Andersson	Suzuki Ignis S1600	2:19.9	Per-Gunnar Andersson
Leg 1 (17 Sep)	SS2	Brechfa 1	29.98 km	Guy Wilks	Suzuki Ignis S1600	19:37.9	Guy Wilks
	SS3	Trawscoed 1	27.97 km	Mirco Baldacci	Suzuki Ignis S1600	18:51.3	Mirco Baldacci
	SS4	Brechfa 2	29.98 km	Nicolas Bernardi	Renault Clio S1600	20:00.2
	SS5	Trawscoed 2	27.97 km	Mirco Baldacci	Suzuki Ignis S1600	19:16.4
	SS6	Rheola 1	32.48 km	Mirco Baldacci	Suzuki Ignis S1600	20:49.7
	SS7	Rheola 2	32.48 km	Mirco Baldacci	Suzuki Ignis S1600	21:01.2
Leg 2 (18 Sep)	SS8	Crychan 1	13.45 km	Per-Gunnar Andersson	Suzuki Ignis S1600	8:31.7
	SS9	Epynt 1	13.33 km	Per-Gunnar Andersson	Suzuki Ignis S1600	8:51.6
	SS10	Halfway 1	18.58 km	Mirco Baldacci	Suzuki Ignis S1600	11:52.0
	SS11	Crychan 2	13.45 km	Kris Meeke	Opel Corsa S1600	8:32.8
	SS12	Epynt 2	13.33 km	Guy Wilks	Suzuki Ignis S1600	9:02.4
	SS13	Halfway 2	18.58 km	Kris Meeke	Opel Corsa S1600	11:58.2
	SS14	Margam 1	27.55 km	Guy Wilks	Suzuki Ignis S1600	17:20.3
	SS15	Cardiff Super Special 2	2.45 km	Kris Meeke	Opel Corsa S1600	2:21.2
Leg 3 (19 Sep)	SS16	Rhondda 1	30.00 km	Kris Meeke	Opel Corsa S1600	17:11.1	Guy Wilks
	SS17	Rhondda 2	30.00 km	Kris Meeke	Opel Corsa S1600	17:07.4
	SS18	Margam 2	27.55	Kris Meeke	Opel Corsa S1600	17:34.1
	SS19	Cardiff Super Special 3	2.45 km	Kris Meeke	Opel Corsa S1600	2:18.4

Championship standings[]

Pos.	Drivers' championships
Pos.	Move	Driver	Points
1	2	Guy Wilks	26
2	1	Nicolas Bernardi	24
3	1	Kosti Katajamäki	22
4	2	Per-Gunnar Andersson	21
5		Urmo Aava	16

References[]

^ "Rallies – Great Britain 2004". Jonnka's World Rally Archive. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
^ "World Rally calendar 2004". BBC Sport. 31 October 2004. Archived from the original on 12 June 2004. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
^ "Rally of Great Britain: Round 12 preview". motorsport.com. 16 September 2004. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
^ "Rally GB gets route revamp". Autosport. 10 March 2004. Archived from the original on 28 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c "FIA World Rally Championship Championship Classifications". Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. Archived from the original on 4 December 2004. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
^ Gordon, Ian (12 November 2003). "Speeding fines put GB event in doubt". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
^ "Rally GB faces safety inquiry". BBC Sport. 12 December 2003. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
^ "Five alternative venues in line for Rally GB". Autosport. 27 January 2004. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
^ "'Hype' blamed for putting rally in jeopardy". WalesOnline. 25 March 2004. Archived from the original on 28 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
^ Proby, Johnny (24 March 2004). "Wales Rally gets green light". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Archived from the original on 28 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
^ "Wales Rally GB Entry List". Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. Archived from the original on 5 December 2004. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
^ "2004 FIA World Rally Championship – Regulations" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 12 December 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 January 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
^ "Wales Rally GB 2004 Entry List". Retrieved 13 October 2021.
^ "Wales Rally GB 2004 Itinerary". Retrieved 13 October 2021.

External links[]

Previous event: 2004 Rally Japan	FIA World Rally Championship, 2004 season	Next event: 2004 Rally d'Italia Sardegna
Previous year: 2003 Wales Rally GB	Wales Rally GB	Next year: 2005 Wales Rally GB

[jwrcarchive-1] "Rallies – Great Britain 2004". Jonnka's World Rally Archive. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.

[2] "World Rally calendar 2004". BBC Sport. 31 October 2004. Archived from the original on 12 June 2004. Retrieved 12 April 2016.

[3] "Rally of Great Britain: Round 12 preview". motorsport.com. 16 September 2004. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.

[4] "Rally GB gets route revamp". Autosport. 10 March 2004. Archived from the original on 28 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.

[standings-5] "FIA World Rally Championship Championship Classifications". Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. Archived from the original on 4 December 2004. Retrieved 12 April 2016.

[6] Gordon, Ian (12 November 2003). "Speeding fines put GB event in doubt". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.

[7] "Rally GB faces safety inquiry". BBC Sport. 12 December 2003. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2016.

[8] "Five alternative venues in line for Rally GB". Autosport. 27 January 2004. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.

[9] "'Hype' blamed for putting rally in jeopardy". WalesOnline. 25 March 2004. Archived from the original on 28 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.

[10] Proby, Johnny (24 March 2004). "Wales Rally gets green light". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Archived from the original on 28 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.

[entrants-11] "Wales Rally GB Entry List". Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. Archived from the original on 5 December 2004. Retrieved 12 April 2016.

[12] "2004 FIA World Rally Championship – Regulations" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 12 December 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 January 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2016.

[gbdrivers_2004-13] "Wales Rally GB 2004 Entry List". Retrieved 13 October 2021.

[gb_2004-14] "Wales Rally GB 2004 Itinerary". Retrieved 13 October 2021.

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