Gilles Panizzi

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Gilles Panizzi
Panizzi2005.jpg
Panizzi in 2005
Personal information
NationalityFrance French
Born (1965-09-19) 19 September 1965 (age 55)
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Alpes-Maritimes
World Rally Championship record
Active years1990–2006
Co-driverFrance
TeamsPeugeot, Mitsubishi, Skoda Motorsport
Rallies71
Championships0
Rally wins7
Podiums14
Stage wins91
Total points134
First rally1990 Monte Carlo Rally
First win2000 Tour de Corse
Last win2003 Rally Catalunya
Last rally2006 Rally Catalunya

Gilles Panizzi (born 19 September 1965) is a former French rally driver.

Panizzi was born in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Alpes-Maritimes. Like many of his fellow rally racing countrymen, Panizzi spent a great deal of his developmental driving years participating in asphalt rally events throughout his native land.

Panizzi driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution at the 2005 Cyprus Rally.

In 1996 and 1997, Panizzi won the French Championship title in a Peugeot-backed (funded) 306 kit car. It was at that point that he was nominated to drive for Peugeot as their resident asphalt (tarmac/sealed-surface) expert.

Between 1999 and 2003 Panizzi had great success in his role as Peugeot's tarmac expert. He won a total of seven World Rally Championship rounds in this period - all on tarmac. However, Panizzi's inability to match his rivals pace on gravel, mud, and snow precluded him from challenging for the world title while at Peugeot. Panizzi had an embarrassing moment during the 2000 Safari Rally, where he and his brother and co-driver Herve were behind the slower car of Argentine driver Roberto Sanchez, who had not moved over despite being ordered to do so was kicking up dust and blinding the irate Panizzi, who picked up two punctures thanks to the stones thrown up by Sanchez's car. The Panizzi brothers were so furious that after the end of the stage they both ran up to Sanchez's car, opened the door and started physically assaulting the Argentine driver, both trying to pull Sanchez out of his car. The Panizzi brothers actions landed them both a $50,000 fine.[1][2] He is the only WRC driver to do a (famous) 360 spin at the Viladrau hairpin, which he did at the 2002 Rally Catalunya. [3][4]

In 2004, Mitsubishi Motor Sports recruited Panizzi and his co-driver and brother, Hervé, to lead the company's charge back in the World Rally Championship.

In the 2005 season, Panizzi was replaced in the lead car by Harri Rovanperä, and guested in the second car with Gianluigi Galli. He finished third at the Monte Carlo Rally, the first event of the season, but only scored points in one other event.

In 2006, he was signed by the semi-privateer Red Bull Škoda team. Despite a strong performance in the opening rally of the season in Monte Carlo, he expressed his dissatisfaction at the performance of his car, and after a disappointing showing in Spain, he announced his departure from the team, and was replaced by his former Peugeot teammate Harri Rovanperä.

WRC victories[]

Gilles Panizzi at the 2005 Cyprus Rally
  #   Event Season Co-driver Car
1 France 44ème V-Rally Tour de Corse - Rallye de France 2000 Peugeot 206 WRC
2 Italy 42º Rallye Sanremo - Rallye d'Italia 2000 Hervé Panizzi Peugeot 206 WRC
3 Italy 43º Rallye Sanremo - Rallye d'Italia 2001 Hervé Panizzi Peugeot 206 WRC
4 France 46ème Rallye de France - Tour de Corse 2002 Hervé Panizzi Peugeot 206 WRC
5 Spain 38º Rallye Catalunya-Costa Brava (Rallye de España) 2002 Hervé Panizzi Peugeot 206 WRC
6 Italy 44º Rallye Sanremo - Rallye d'Italia 2002 Hervé Panizzi Peugeot 206 WRC
7 Spain 39º Rallye Catalunya-Costa Brava (Rallye de España) 2003 Hervé Panizzi Peugeot 206 WRC

Complete WRC results[]

Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 WDC Points
1990 Gilles Panizzi Lancia Delta Integrale
16 		NC 0
1993 Gilles Panizzi Peugeot 106 XSi
Ret 		NZL NC 0
1995 Peugeot Sport Peugeot 306 S16 MON
12 		NC 0
1997 Peugeot Sport Peugeot 306 Maxi
3
3 		NZL 10th 8
1998 Peugeot Sport Peugeot 306 Maxi
9 		SWE KEN
6
4 		NZL
5 		12th 6
Gilles Panizzi Peugeot 106 Rallye
35
Subaru Impreza WRX GBR
Ret
1999 Gilles Panizzi Subaru Impreza WRC 98
Ret 		10th 6
Peugeot Esso Peugeot 206 WRC
Ret 		NZL
33
2
7
2000 Peugeot Esso Peugeot 206 WRC MON
Ret 		SWE KEN
Ret 		POR ESP
6 		NZL
1
1
Ret
8 		7th 21
2001 Peugeot Total Peugeot 206 WRC
Ret
2
1
2
9 		8th 22
H.F. Grifone SRL
12
Ret
Ret
14 		NZL
Ret
2002 Peugeot Total Peugeot 206 WRC
7
1
1
10
Ret
6
1 		NZL
7 		6th 31
Bozian Racing
16 		GRE
Ret
11
2003 Marlboro Peugeot Total Peugeot 206 WRC MON
Ret
10
2
6
1 		10th 27
Bozian Racing
5 		NZL
7
Ret
Ret
2004 Mitsubishi Motors Mitsubishi Lancer WRC 04 MON
6 		SWE
Ret
8 		NZL
Ret 		CYP
Ret
10 		TUR
Ret 		ARG
7 		FIN
11 		GER
Ret 		GBR
12 		AUS 13th 6
2005 Mitsubishi Motors Mitsubishi Lancer WRC 05 MON
3 		SWE MEX
8 		NZL ITA CYP
11 		TUR FIN GBR JPN
11 		FRA
Ret 		AUS 15th 7
2006 Red Bull Škoda Škoda Fabia WRC MON
10 		SWE MEX ESP
10 		FRA ARG ITA GRE GER FIN JPN CYP TUR AUS NZL GBR NC 0

References[]

  1. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHGfXUPMiNc
  2. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF2bX9NUMYs
  3. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3lycIaNMfc
  4. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAGaluvzX40

Sources[]

Sporting positions
Preceded by
JJ Lehto
Tommi Mäkinen
Kari Tiainen 		Race of Champions
Nations' Cup
2000 with:
Régis Laconi
Yvan Muller 		Succeeded by
Fernando Alonso
Jesús Puras
Rubén Xaus
Preceded by
Colin Edwards
Jeff Gordon
Jimmie Johnson 		Race of Champions
Nations' Cup
2003 with:
Cristiano da Matta
Fonsi Nieto 		Succeeded by
Jean Alesi
Sébastien Loeb
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