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2003 Race of Champions

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The 2003 Race of Champions took place on November 28–30 at Gran Canaria for the final time. It was also the last year for three-car teams in the Nations' Cup (including one motorcycle racer), with the focus on rally drivers fading after this year's event due to the later stadium-based venues using all-tarmac tracks.

The vehicles used were the Peugeot 206 WRC, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII Group N, the Subaru Impreza WRX and the ROC Buggy.

The individual competition was won by Sébastien Loeb, whilst the Nations' Cup was won by the All-Star line-up of Fonsi Nieto, Gilles Panizzi and Cristiano da Matta.

Participants

Country Racing Driver Rally Driver Motorcycle Racer
France France Olivier Panis France Sébastien Loeb France Randy de Puniet
United States United States Boris Said United States Casey Mears United States Travis Pastrana
Great Britain United Kingdom Guy Smith United Kingdom David Higgins United Kingdom James Toseland
Finland Finland JJ Lehto Finland Timo Salonen Finland Samuli Aro
Spain Spain Oriol Servià Spain Flavio Alonso Spain Emilio Alzamora
Sweden Sweden Björn Wirdheim Sweden Daniel Carlsson Sweden Tony Rickardsson
Italy Italy Rinaldo Capello Italy Renato Travaglia Italy Alessandro Gramigni
Germany Germany Sven Heidfeld Germany Armin Kremer Germany Alex Hofmann
All-Stars Brazil Cristiano da Matta France Gilles Panizzi Spain Fonsi Nieto
  • Nick Heidfeld was originally confirmed for Germany but had prior commitments, his brother Sven taking his place.
  • Johnny Herbert was originally confirmed for Great Britain but had prior commitments, Smith taking his place.
  • Marcus Grönholm was to represent Finland, but due to testing commitments could not arrive in time for the Nations Cup. Salonen took his place.[1]
  • Kenny Brack was to represent Sweden, but due to injury sustained in a CART accident Wirdheim took his place.[2]

Junior Rally Masters

Group Stage

Driver Races Wins Losses Best Time
Belgium François Duval 3 3 0 2:10.04
Sweden Daniel Carlsson 3 2 1 2:09.28
Spain Txus Jaio 3 1 2 2:19.27
Spain Francisco Suárez 3 0 3 2:10.66
Driver 1 Time 1 Driver 2 Time 2
Sweden Daniel Carlsson 2:15.11 Belgium François Duval 2:13.13
Spain Txus Jaio 2:19.27 Spain Francisco Suárez DNF
Belgium François Duval 2:11.68 Spain Txus Jaio 02:15.78
Spain Francisco Suárez 2:23.69 (penalty) Sweden Daniel Carlsson 2:11.51
Belgium François Duval 2:10.04 Spain Francisco Suárez 2:10.66
Spain Txus Jaio 2:12.10 Sweden Daniel Carlsson 2:09.28

Final

 
Final
 
  
 
 
 
 
Belgium François Duval1
 
 
Sweden Daniel Carlsson0
 
Driver 1 Time 1 Driver 2 Time 2
Belgium François Duval 1:59.04 Sweden Daniel Carlsson 1:59.76

Nations' Cup

Group stage

Group A

Pos. Team Races Wins Losses Total Time Driver Wins Losses Best Time
1 Sweden Sweden 6 4 2 6:00.60 Sweden Daniel Carlsson 1 1 1:56.77
Sweden Björn Wirdheim 1 1 2:01.13
Sweden Tony Rickardsson 2 0 2:02.70
2 Finland Finland 6 3 3 5:56.92 Finland Timo Salonen 1 1 1:57.69
Finland JJ Lehto 2 0 1:59.32
Finland Samuli Aro 0 2 1:59.91
3 France France 6 2 4 5:56.15 France Sébastien Loeb 1 1 1:56.05
France Olivier Panis 0 2 2:00.19
France Randy de Puniet 1 1 1:59.91
Team 1 Time 1 Score Team 2 Time 2
Finland Finland 2-1 Sweden Sweden
Samuli Aro 2:05.68 Tony Rickardsson 2:02.70
JJ Lehto 1:59.77 Björn Wirdheim 2:03.58
Timo Salonen 1:59.93 Daniel Carlsson 2:14.20 (penalty)
Sweden Sweden 3-0 France France
Tony Rickardsson 2:03.24 Randy de Puniet 2:13.09 (penalty)
Björn Wirdheim 2:01.13 Olivier Panis 2:02.42
Daniel Carlsson 1:56.77 Sébastien Loeb 2:06.91 (penalty)
France France 2-1 Finland Finland
Randy de Puniet 1:59.91 Samuli Aro 1:59.91
Olivier Panis 2:00.19 JJ Lehto 1:59.32
Sébastien Loeb 1:56.05 Timo Salonen 1:57.69

Group B

Pos. Team Races Wins Losses Total Time Driver Wins Losses Best Time
1 Spain Spain 6 6 0 5:51.52 Spain Flavio Alonso 2 0 1:56.81
Spain Oriol Servià 2 0 1:57.53
Spain Emilio Alzamora 2 0 1:57.18
2 Italy Italy 6 2 4 6:00.73 Italy Renato Travaglia 1 1 1:56.92
Italy Rinaldo Capello 1 1 1:59.84
Italy Alessandro Gramigni 0 2 2:03.97
3 United Kingdom Great Britain 6 1 5 6:03.51 United Kingdom David Higgins 0 2 1:57.72
United Kingdom Guy Smith 0 2 2:03.73
United Kingdom James Toseland 1 1 2:02.06
Team 1 Time 1 Score Team 2 Time 2
Italy Italy 2-1 United Kingdom Great Britain
Alessandro Gramigni 2:03.97 James Toseland 2:02.06
Rinaldo Capello 2:00.05 Guy Smith 2:03.73
Renato Travaglia 1:56.92 David Higgins 3:30.70
United Kingdom Great Britain 0-3 Spain Spain
James Toseland DNF Emilio Alzamora 1:58.83
Guy Smith 2:25.56 Oriol Servià 2:00.49
David Higgins 1:57.72 Flavio Alonso 1:56.81
Spain Spain 3-0 Italy Italy
Emilio Alzamora 1:57.18 Alessandro Gramigni 2:11.34 (penalty)
Oriol Servià 1:57.53 Rinaldo Capello 1:59.84
Flavio Alonso 1:56.96 Renato Travaglia 1:57.45

Group C

Pos. Team Races Wins Losses Total Time Driver Wins Losses Best Time
1 United Nations All-Stars 6 4 2 5:55.38 France Gilles Panizzi 2 0 1:58.15
Brazil Cristiano da Matta 2 0 1:57.37
Spain Fonsi Nieto 0 2 1:59.86
2 United States USA 6 3 3 5:55.06 United States Casey Mears 0 2 1:59.92
United States Boris Said 1 1 1:59.79
United States Travis Pastrana 2 0 1:55.35
3 Germany Germany 6 2 4 5:57.55 Germany Armin Kremer 1 1 1:58.47
Germany Sven Heidfeld 0 2 2:00.97
Germany Alex Hofmann 1 1 1:58.11
Team 1 Time 1 Score Team 2 Time 2
United States USA 2-1 Germany Germany
Travis Pastrana 1:57.16 Alex Hofmann 2:01.41
Boris Said 2:03.04 Sven Heidfeld 2:03.25
Casey Mears 1:59.92 Armin Kremer 1:48.57
Germany Germany 1-2 United Nations All-Stars
Alex Hofmann 1:58.11 Fonsi Nieto 1:59.86
Sven Heidfeld 2:00.97 Cristiano da Matta 1:59.25
Armin Kremer 1:58.74 Gilles Panizzi 1:58.15
United Nations All-Stars 2-1 United States USA
Fonsi Nieto 2:00.60 Travis Pastrana 1:55.35
Cristiano da Matta 1:57.37 Boris Said 1:59.79
Gilles Panizzi 1:58.18 Casey Mears 2:02.85
  • USA progress to the semi-finals by having the fastest total time of the losing teams.

Best Times

Pos. Rally Racing Motorcycle
Driver Best Time Driver Best Time Driver Best Time
1 France Sébastien Loeb 1:56.05 Brazil Cristiano da Matta 1:57.37 United States Travis Pastrana 1:55.35
2 Sweden Daniel Carlsson 1:56.77 Spain Oriol Servià 1:57.53 Spain Emilio Alzamora 1:57.18
3 Spain Flavio Alonso 1:56.81 Finland JJ Lehto 1:59.32 Germany Alex Hofmann 1:58.11
4 Italy Renato Travaglia 1:56.92 United States Boris Said 1:59.79 Spain Fonsi Nieto 1:59.86
5 Finland Timo Salonen 1:57.69 Italy Rinaldo Capello 1:59.84 Finland Samuli Aro 1:59.91
6 United Kingdom David Higgins 1:57.72 France Olivier Panis 2:00.19 France Randy de Puniet 1:59.91
7 France Gilles Panizzi 1:58.15 Germany Sven Heidfeld 2:00.97 United Kingdom James Toseland 2:02.06
8 Germany Armin Kremer 1:58.47 Sweden Björn Wirdheim 2:01.13 Sweden Tony Rickardsson 2:02.70
9 United States Casey Mears 1:59.92 United Kingdom Guy Smith 2:03.73 Italy Alessandro Gramigni 2:03.97

Knockout stage

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
 
 
 
Spain Spain3
 
 
 
Sweden Sweden0
 
Spain Spain2
 
 
 
United Nations All-Stars3
 
United Nations All-Stars3
 
 
United States USA2
 

Semifinals

Team 1 Time 1 Score Team 2 Time 2
Spain Spain 3-0 Sweden Sweden
Emilio Alzamora 2:00.69 Tony Rickardsson 2:02.07
Oriol Servià 2:00.48 Björn Wirdheim 2:02.91
Flavio Alonso 1:54.58 Daniel Carlsson 1:55.45
United Nations All-Stars 3–2 United States United States
Fonsi Nieto DNF Travis Pastrana 2:28.61
Cristiano da Matta 1:59.51 Boris Said 2:00.30
Gilles Panizzi 1:53.88 Casey Mears 1:56.34
Fonsi Nieto 2:02.23 Travis Pastrana 1:56.59
Cristiano da Matta 1:57.75 Boris Said 2:00.61

Final

Team 1 Time 1 Score Team 2 Time 2
Spain Spain 2-3 United Nations All-Stars
Emilio Alzamora 1:58.15 Fonsi Nieto 2:02.42
Oriol Servià 1:59.30 Cristiano da Matta 1:58.45
Flavio Alonso 1:53.37 Gilles Panizzi 1:52.62
Emilio Alzamora 1:56.92 Fonsi Nieto 1:59.26
Oriol Servià 1:59.73 Cristiano da Matta 1:57.98

Race of Champions

Participation in the main Race of Champions was awarded primarily on the basis of having the best times in the Nations' Cup. There were several exceptions to this rule however - Marcus Grönholm, as the defending champion, was guaranteed a spot, whilst Cristiano da Matta, despite having the best time among racing drivers in the Nations' Cup, did not participate. François Duval secured his place by winning the Junior event, Dani Sordo won the Spanish Masters event, Timo Salonen was an invited 'seeded' driver and Martin Rowe was invited for having won the 2003 PWRC title. Thomas Biagi meanwhile earned his place by beating FIA GT teammate Matteo Bobbi and Volkswagen Cup UK winner Rob Carvell.

Group stage

Group A

Driver Races Wins Losses Best Time
Italy Renato Travaglia 3 3 0 1:58.07
Spain Dani Sordo 3 1 2 2:03.68
Finland Timo Salonen 3 1 2 2:06.47
United Kingdom Martin Rowe 3 1 2 2:07.45
Driver 1 Time 1 Driver 2 Time 2
Spain Dani Sordo DNF Italy Renato Travaglia 1:58.07
United Kingdom Martin Rowe 2:07.45 Finland Timo Salonen 2:07.71
Finland Timo Salonen 2:06.47 Spain Dani Sordo 2:15 47 (penalty)
Italy Renato Travaglia 2:04.27 United Kingdom Martin Rowe 2:05.80
Spain Dani Sordo 2:03.68 United Kingdom Martin Rowe 2:14.38 (penalty)
Finland Timo Salonen 2:08.11 Italy Renato Travaglia 2:04.33

Group B

Driver Races Wins Losses Best Time
Spain Flavio Alonso 3 3 0 1:54.50
Spain Oriol Servià 3 2 1 1:54.03
Spain Emilio Alzamora 3 1 2 1:56.67
Italy Thomas Biagi 3 0 3 1:56.77
Driver 1 Time 1 Driver 2 Time 2
Spain Oriol Servià 1:55.71 Spain Emilio Alzamora 1:59.99
Italy Thomas Biagi 2:02.72 Spain Flavio Alonso 1:57.05
Spain Flavio Alonso 1:54.84 Spain Oriol Servià 1:55.64
Spain Emilio Alzamora 1:56.67 Italy Thomas Biagi 2:07.61 (penalty)
Spain Emilio Alzamora 1:54.53 Spain Flavio Alonso 1:54.50
Spain Oriol Servià 1:54.03 Italy Thomas Biagi 1:56.77

Knockout stage

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
France Sébastien Loeb2
 
 
 
Sweden Daniel Carlsson0
 
France Sébastien Loeb2
 
 
 
Belgium François Duval0
 
Spain Flavio Alonso0
 
 
 
Belgium François Duval2
 
France Sébastien Loeb2
 
 
 
Finland Marcus Grönholm0
 
Finland Marcus Grönholm1
 
 
 
United States Travis Pastrana0
 
Finland Marcus Grönholm2
 
 
 
France Gilles Panizzi1
 
France Gilles Panizzi2
 
 
Italy Renato Travaglia0
 

Quarterfinals

Driver 1 Time 1 Driver 2 Time 2
France Sébastien Loeb 1:56.96 Sweden Daniel Carlsson 1:57.90
France Sébastien Loeb 1:51.67 Sweden Daniel Carlsson 1:52.38
Spain Flavio Alonso 1:57.13 Belgium François Duval 1:57.03
Spain Flavio Alonso 1:52.30 Belgium François Duval 1:52.05
Finland Marcus Grönholm 1:56.51 United States Travis Pastrana 2:37.21
France Gilles Panizzi 1:58.21 Italy Renato Travaglia 1:58.57
France Gilles Panizzi 1:53.60 Italy Renato Travaglia 1:53.67

Semifinals

Driver 1 Time 1 Driver 2 Time 2
France Sébastien Loeb 1:56.55 Belgium François Duval 1:56.60
France Sébastien Loeb 1:51.85 Belgium François Duval 1:52.30
Finland Marcus Grönholm 1:57.07 France Gilles Panizzi 1:57.64
Finland Marcus Grönholm 1:53.53 France Gilles Panizzi 1:53.46
Finland Marcus Grönholm 1:52.18 France Gilles Panizzi 1:53.05

Final

Driver 1 Time 1 Driver 2 Time 2
France Sébastien Loeb 1:56.15 Finland Marcus Grönholm 1:56.45
France Sébastien Loeb 1:52.30 Finland Marcus Grönholm 1:53.09

References

  1. ^ "Michelin Race of Champions". Archived from the original on 15 November 2006. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  2. ^ "Michelin Race of Champions". Archived from the original on 8 January 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
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