06
October
2002
|
10:00
Europe/Amsterdam
ZEALAND RALLY - World Championship, round 12
Peugeot and Gronholm 2002 Champions Makinen 3rd at the
end
Peugeot and Finnish ace Marcus Gronholm are the 2002 World Rally champions, after their superb win at the New Zealand Rally which finished today in Auckland. Engine failure on the penultimate Stage robbed Petter Solberg (Subaru-Pirelli) of a well-deserved podium finish. However, a solid drive from both Tommi Makinen (Subaru-Pirelli) and Carlos Sainz (Ford-Pirelli) secured 3rd and 4th respectively.
Further down the field, Bruce Herbert and seven-time Australian Champion Possum Bourne (both Subaru-Pirelli) led home the Group N crews on their home event. Now the Production World Championship contest will be decided in Australia between series leader Karamjit Singh (Proton-Pirelli), Ramon Ferreyros (Mitsubishi-Pirelli) and Kristian Sohlberg.
Pirelli fitted its cars during the event with both K and KM tyres options. They were ideal respectively for hard-clean gravel surface, and for loose gravel, and offered once again a perfect performance for both competitiveness and reliability.
Final Standings: 1. Gronholm (Peugeot), 3h58m45.4; 2. Rovanpera (Peugeot) +3m47.6; 3. Makinen (Subaru-Pirelli) +4m26.3; 4. Sainz (Ford-Pirelli) +5m48.9 ; 5. Kankkunen (Hyundai) +7m10.2 ; 6. Loix (Hyundai) +7m52.5; 7. Panizzi (Peugeot) +8m24.4 ; 8. Gardemeister (Skoda) +8m56.1; 9. Delecour (Mitsubishi) +10m43.6; 10. Schwarz (Hyundai) +11m34.4
World Championship Standings (after 12 out of 14 events)
Drivers: 1. Gronholm p.67; 2. Burns 34; 3. C. McRae 33; 4. Panizzi 31; 5. Sainz 29 ; 6. Rovanpera 24; 7. Solberg 23 ; 8. Makinen 19 ; 9 Loeb 18; 10. Martin 12; 11. Bugalski 7; 12. Radstrom 4; 13. A. McRae, Gardemeister, Thiry e Kankkunen 2; 17. Eriksson e Puras 1
Manufacturers: 1. Peugeot p.147; 2. Ford-Pirelli 89; 3. Subaru-Pirelli 50; 4. Mitsubishi e Hyundai 9; 6. Skoda 8
NEXT EVENT: Australia (gravel), November 1-3.
Peugeot and Finnish ace Marcus Gronholm are the 2002 World Rally champions, after their superb win at the New Zealand Rally which finished today in Auckland. Engine failure on the penultimate Stage robbed Petter Solberg (Subaru-Pirelli) of a well-deserved podium finish. However, a solid drive from both Tommi Makinen (Subaru-Pirelli) and Carlos Sainz (Ford-Pirelli) secured 3rd and 4th respectively.
Further down the field, Bruce Herbert and seven-time Australian Champion Possum Bourne (both Subaru-Pirelli) led home the Group N crews on their home event. Now the Production World Championship contest will be decided in Australia between series leader Karamjit Singh (Proton-Pirelli), Ramon Ferreyros (Mitsubishi-Pirelli) and Kristian Sohlberg.
Pirelli fitted its cars during the event with both K and KM tyres options. They were ideal respectively for hard-clean gravel surface, and for loose gravel, and offered once again a perfect performance for both competitiveness and reliability.
Final Standings: 1. Gronholm (Peugeot), 3h58m45.4; 2. Rovanpera (Peugeot) +3m47.6; 3. Makinen (Subaru-Pirelli) +4m26.3; 4. Sainz (Ford-Pirelli) +5m48.9 ; 5. Kankkunen (Hyundai) +7m10.2 ; 6. Loix (Hyundai) +7m52.5; 7. Panizzi (Peugeot) +8m24.4 ; 8. Gardemeister (Skoda) +8m56.1; 9. Delecour (Mitsubishi) +10m43.6; 10. Schwarz (Hyundai) +11m34.4
World Championship Standings (after 12 out of 14 events)
Drivers: 1. Gronholm p.67; 2. Burns 34; 3. C. McRae 33; 4. Panizzi 31; 5. Sainz 29 ; 6. Rovanpera 24; 7. Solberg 23 ; 8. Makinen 19 ; 9 Loeb 18; 10. Martin 12; 11. Bugalski 7; 12. Radstrom 4; 13. A. McRae, Gardemeister, Thiry e Kankkunen 2; 17. Eriksson e Puras 1
Manufacturers: 1. Peugeot p.147; 2. Ford-Pirelli 89; 3. Subaru-Pirelli 50; 4. Mitsubishi e Hyundai 9; 6. Skoda 8
NEXT EVENT: Australia (gravel), November 1-3.