Panizzi takes Corsican victory
Gilles Panizzi celebrated his first World Championship rally win in fine style, heading a Peugeot one-two on the twisting asphalt of Corsica.
A year after the team's WRC debut with the 206WRC, the volatile Frenchman scored the French camp's first asphalt success and the result brings Peugeot right into the frame for the World Championship titles.
While team orders may have angered Francois Delecour, who was less than a second behind Panizzi when the team boss told the crews to cool it, the result has taken Peugeot past Subaru into second place with three events to run. As the next round is also on asphalt, in San Remo, a further push is expected.
Marcus Gronholm took fifth and those two points are his advantage over fourth placed Richard Burns at the head of the drivers' table. Burns fought a mysterious handling problem throughout the event and has bounced back into the leading pack for the title.
San Remo won't be easy for the Englishman once more but after that he goes to favourite events in Australia and Britain with every chance of taking his first World title.
Whether Colin McRae can stay in the hunt will depend on medical examinations this week following his frightening departure from the event on Saturday. However, McRae's Ford team mate Carlos Sainz has edged closer to a title challenge with third place. The Spaniard is now just five points behind Gronholm and, like Burns and McRae, can attack the final events with more confidence than the Finn.
Should McRae be unable to compete in Italy, a little over two weeks from now, his place in the Ford team is likely to fall to Piero Liatti who took a fine sixth place on his first drive in a Ford Focus.
To see full results, click here.
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