Panizzi wins the Rally Catalunya in the last stage where Sainz falls to seventh place
Spectacular end of the 39th edition of the Rally Catalunya-Costa Brava, whose winner wasn’t decided until the last stage, when Gilles Panizzi (Peugeot), in a thrilling final sprint, overtook Sébastien Loeb (Citroën), who had been leader since the second stage of the event. The Frenchman kept the second position just by six tenths, ahead of Markko Martin (Ford) with neck problems.
But the change of leader at the last minute wasn’t the only surprise of the event. Carlos Sainz (Citroën), who was fourth and maintained his position without problems, suffered problems, and just like he stated, “I stalled the car and needed the public’s help to start it up again”. This problem caused him a loss of three notches in the classification, overtaken by François Duval (Ford), Petter Solberg (Subaru), and Marcus Grönholm (Peugeot). Sainz’s problems didn’t end here, because shortly before arriving to the Lloret podium he stalled the car again, penalising 10 more seconds for being late, although this didn’t alter his position.
After this rally, and with only British RAC as remaining event, the WRC classification is very tight, with four drivers in just 5 points. Loeb and Sainz are tied with 63 points, Solberg ha 62, whereas Richard Burns (Peugeot), has 58.
A leg under the rain
It looked like Sébastien Loeb would have no trouble in maintaining the leadership, especially after the first three stages in the morning, where he increased his advantage above Panizzi and Martin. A mistake in the tyre choice made the French lose his advantage, until he lost the first position to the Panizzi brothers.
As for the Subaru cars driven by Solberg and Tommi Makkinen, they started the leg vigorously by dominating the first three tests, in which the Norwegian climbed from tenth to sixth place. The rain favoured the blue team’s Pirelli, although they have not been able to repeat the performance of the first run of the three stages and they didn’t run in times similar to their rivals’.
A significant retirement was Richard Burns’, for going off the road, thus becoming the second retirement of the British driver this season after the Cyprus Rally, where he suffered mechanical problems.
In the Junior WRC, Brice Tirabassi (Renault Clio) totally dominated the race, and obtained his third victory this year. Kris Meeke (Opel Corsa) was second, ahead of Salvador Cañellas (Suzuki Ignis), who is still second in the overall standing 7 points away from Tirabassi and waiting for the last race. In Group N, the winner was Xevi Pons (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII), ahead of another RACC Driver, Daniel Sordo (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII).
The spectators – the other winners of the Rally
The massive attendance of spectators made the organisation predict a complicated weekend, although the good behaviour ruled among all the fans that saw the Rally Catalunya on the spot, respecting the areas reserved for the public at all times. The crowd is an essential part of the show in the WRC, and without their cooperation it would have been impossible to enjoy a great event such as this 39th edition of the Rally Catalunya.
