Sat January 17, 2004

 Wonderful draw of the Monte It's that wonderful time of the year again, and Ford's squad enters the opening round of the FIA World Rally Championship in Monte Carlo next week boasting the youngest driver line-up of any team contesting the series. In a sport where drivers have traditionally never reac...

NEWS JUST IN

 Pre Monte snippets @ 04:24 AM - Markko Märtin and Francois Duval will both test in southern France ahead of the practice period. Märtin will test tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday with Duval behind the wheel on Monday. Both also carried out comprehensive pre-Christmas tests for the Monte Carlo and Swedish rallies ... Märtin has been unable to complete his normal cycling training programme for the past few weeks due to a small injury to his right knee. Although no handicap to his driving, he has not been able to ride a bicycle and was due to see a doctor yesterday for tests.

Wed January 29, 2003

 Richards backs under-fire ACM

Sun January 26, 2003

 Markko narrowly misses podium

 Loeb heads Citroen clean sweep

NEWS JUST IN

 Martin third by just 3.1 secs @ 12:30 AM - Markko MJartin goes into the final stage holding onto third place by just 3.1 seconds from Carlos Sainz, whpo was fastest on the second run through the Col du Turini. Loeb has backed right off, and the Loeb-McRae one-two looks settled.

 After SS13, Sospel @ 12:29 AM - In the penultimate stage, Loeb settles down, Sainz closes gap to Märtin. Current Overall Positions - 1. Loeb 4:15:00.0 2. McRae +0:46.8 3. Märtin +1:14.1 4. Sainz +1:17.5 5. Burns +3:18.2 6. Robert +5:22.3 7. Duval +5:30.0 8. Schwarz +6:37.0 9. Auriol +7:12.0 10. Kresta +7:39.0

 Sainz @ 10:09 AM - According to reports from Citroen, Carlos Sainz was suffering with brake problems on SS12.

 SS12 - Lantosque, 19.52 km @ 09:50 AM - Martin Splits the Citroens - Current Overall Positions - Current Overall Positions - 1. Loeb 3:49:26.8 2. McRae +1:05.2 3. Martin +1:50.4 4. Sainz +1:58.7 5. Burns +3:33.9 6. Robert +5:34.6 7. Duval +6:01.1 8. Schwarz +6:50.1 9. Kresta +7:15.6 10. Auriol +7:24.3 11. Warmbold +23:11.0 12. Burri +24:13.6 13. Gronholm +32:39.4 14. Jean-Joseph +34:02.4 15. Boland +37:28.6

 SS11 - Sospel, 32.58 Km @ 09:09 AM - Current Overall Positions - 1. Loeb 3:34:27.6 2. McRae +1:04.9 3. Sainz +2:11.5 4. Martin +2:40.2 5. Burns +4:17.2 6. Robert +5:23.0 7. Duval +6:48.9 8. Kresta +6:52.3 9. Schwarz +7:21.6 10. Auriol +7:48.1 11. Warmbold +23:02.8 12. Burri +23:27.4 13. Gronholm +32:31.0 14. Boland +35:57.0 15. Roux +37:11.9

 McRae Ok! @ 08:54 AM - McRae's GPS was at fault causing him to look like he stopped on stage. Citroen confirm that it was a GPS problem and we've just put on a fresh pair of pants.............

Sat January 25, 2003

 Loeb leads as Gronholm suffers

 Peugeot – Monte – Half Way Point

NEWS JUST IN

 Loeb thinks about the glory @ 07:39 PM - Sebastien Loeb ... "There is still one leg to go, four special stages, and over 100 km of timed sections. Thousand of bends to negotiate, dozens of traps to avoid. We must all keep our concentration, be even more careful in order to make the dream come true."

 Citroen team orders dilemma @ 04:42 PM - The Citroen team will have some serious thinking to do this evening to consider the application of team orders for their drivers on Sunday's final leg. The Versailles crews would probably prefer not having to fight amonmgst themselves on the ice and snow, however Markko Martin is not far behind Carlos in fourth - and of course the FIA doesn't like team orders. We will see.

 SS10 - Saint Antonin & End Of Leg 2 @ 02:18 PM - Current Overall Positions - 1. Loeb 3:08:54.0 2. McRae +1:07.9 3. Sainz +1:45.0 4. Martin +2:24.4 5. Burns +3:38.9 6. Robert +5:11.5 7. Kresta +6:16.2 8. Duval +6:36.0 9. Schwarz +6:38.8 10. Auriol +6:41.7 11. Warmbold +21:28.3 12. Burri +21:37.0 13. Gronholm +32:20.0 15. Boland +32:44.3 15. Roux +35:09.0

 SS9 - Les 4 Chemins @ 01:38 PM - Gronholm Down to 13th Position +30:38.6. Current Overall Positions - 1. Loeb 2:50:52.6 2. McRae +1:15.9 3. Sainz +1:54.1 4. Martin +2:31.6 5. Burns +3:33.8 6. Robert +5:10.5 7. Kresta +5:58.1 8. Schwarz +6:30.2 9. Duval +6:35.5 10. Auriol +6:37.9 11. Burri +19:28.9 12. Warmbold +20:33.9 13. Gronholm +30:20.9 14. Boland +30:38.6 15. Roux +32:53.1

 Gronholm Still Running @ 01:30 PM - Corrado Provera has said that Marcus Gronholm has fixed the car and is able to continue. He said that he hit a rock and the steering was damaged, but they have succeeded in repairing the car and will start Stage 10.

 Gronholm In Trouble @ 01:10 PM - Gronholm hit a rock on SS9 and says the car is "Too dangerous to drive". Marcus stopped on the stage and lost too much time to hold onto any kind of lead. His car however has started moving again on stage.

 Loix Out @ 01:02 PM - Freddy Loix hit some ice on his slicks and went straight off into a ditch. He won't be continuing.

 SS 9 - Stopped @ 12:41 AM - A fire involving a private car in the tunnel Gallet Laid on the A8 motorway, caused 21 competitors to be blocked, North of Monte Carlo and have had to turn back. This has stopped Stage 9 but the cars that have made it through will compete this afternoon. The Clerk of the course has said that a time will be applied to the rest of the field that didn't make it through the tunnel.

 Daniel Carlsson Excluded @ 09:53 AM - Daniel Carlsson was caught for speeding. 70km/h too fast on a transport stage. Daniel is now expelled from the rally and he will probably lose his driving license.

 SS8 - Saint Antonin @ 09:30 AM - Current Overall Positions - 1. Gronholm 2:25:40.5 2. Loeb +12.8 3. McRae +1:14.4 4. Sainz +1:57.2 5. Burns +2:01.4 6. Martin +2:30.8 7. Robert +4:47.3 8. Duval +5:31.0 9. Schwarz +5:32.3 10. Kresta +5:48.2 11. Auriol +6:07.5 12. Loix +8:08.7 13. Hirvonen +8:44.0 14. Panizzi +12:17.3 (now retired) 15. Burri +16:04.7

 Panizzi Out @ 09:20 AM - Gilles Panizzi has withdrawn on medical grounds. Team Boss Corrado Provera said he was withdrawn due to high blood pressure.

 MC stage seven cancelled @ 08:45 AM - The seventh stage of the event, Les 4 Chemins, has been cancelled due to spectator over-crowding. Cancellations have plagued the Monte Carlo Rally in the last few years, and is particularly problematic on weekends of course.

Fri January 24, 2003

 Kresta ends day one in the top 10

 Loeb hunts his prey - leg one

 Misery for Subaru on Stage 5

 After Stages 3 & 4

NEWS JUST IN

 SS6 - Plan de Vitrolles (2) @ 04:57 PM - Current Overall Positions After SS6 & Leg 1 - 1. Gronholm 2:07:24.7 3. Loeb +20.6 3. McRae +1:16.6 4. Burns +1:53.9 5. Sainz +1:55.7 6. Martin +2:30.7 7. Robert +4:41.1 8. Schwarz +5:03.8 9. Kresta +5:09.1 10. Duval +5:17.0 11. Auriol +5:41.7 12. Loix +7:25.8 13. Hirvonen +8:19.5 14. Panizzi +9:57.9 15. Burri +14:20.0

 SS5 - Plan de Vitrolles @ 02:35 PM - Current Overall Results - 1. Gronholm 1:37:03.3 2. Loeb +37.3 3. McRae +1:33.3 4. Burns +1:35.2 5. Sainz +1:56.0 6. Martin +2:08.9 7. Robert +3:13.0 8. Kresta +4:09.0 9. Schwarz +4:10.2 10. Auriol +4:11.5 11. Duval +4:14.1 12. Loix +5:42.9 13. Hirvonen +6:11.7 14. Panizzi +8:08.2 15. Warmbold +12:00.8

 Makinen & Solberg Out! @ 02:13 PM - Tommi Makinen goes off the road 6km into the stage and could not get back on, retires, also Petter aquaplaned off the road 22km into the stage and damaged his radiator, unable to continue.

 SS4 - Selonnet (2) @ 12:50 AM - Current Overall Results - 1. Gronholm 1:07:50.1 2. Solberg +46.4 3. Loeb +55.6 4. McRae +1:08.7 5. Burns +1:21.4 6. Sainz +1:56.6 7. Martin +1:59.9 8. Robert +2:17.4 9. Makinen +2:52.0 10. Kresta +3:04.4 11. Schwarz +3:06.2 12. Duval +3:11.7 13. Auriol +3:12.5 14. Loix +4:11.0 15. Hirvonen +4:28.3 16. Panizzi +4:46.9 17. Warmbold +8:16.0

 Makinen, Problems @ 11:12 AM - Tommi Makinen has lost proper use of his front brakes near to the end of SS3

 Loeb Sets Fastest Time On SS3 @ 11:04 AM - Sebastien Loeb's time comes in 6 seconds faster than Colin McRae and more importantly 14 seconds faster than Gronholm.