Auriol scoops Catalunya Rally victory

Auriol led a Peugeot one-two, giving Peugeot the glory after sister company Citroen's super-quick Xsara T4s both hit problems.

"Of course I'm happy," said Auriol, "I've had a lot of bad luck earlier in the season, but that's part of life."

The 42-year-old took the lead on the final morning of the rally after Citroen's Philippe Bugalski hit clutch problems.

"Maybe we were lucky, because Philippe had his problem," continued Auriol, "but I've lost rallies like that in the past. Our reliability was great, we didn't have to touch the car. It's like a magic car, you just put a driver in it and he wins."

Second placed Panizzi was also delighted for his employer, and commented: "Sixteen points for Peugeot is a great result. I think this could be the start of Peugeot's season."

Peugeot's rally was only soured by the loss of reigning world champion Marcus Gronholm on the opening day, when he clipped a rock and removed his left-rear wheel. Its points haul from finishing first and second, however, has more than made up for it.

"I'm so delighted for Didier after his problems in the Monte, Sweden and Portugal," said Peugeot's motorsport chief Corrado Provera. "To score a one-two is a sweet taste. We have been trying to taste that again since San Remo last year.

"Gilles had a small [engine] mapping problem yesterday, but once that was cured he has been setting scratch [fastest] times. He and Didier have both proved how fast they are on asphalt and against some very strong opposition," he added.

Bugalski looks set for fourth place overall. His clutch problem led to a two-minute penalty against which his team has appealed, but the best he can only hope for is it to be reduced to one minute, which would move him up to third place.

"It was difficult for me this afternoon after my clutch problem," admitted Bugalski. "The penalty of one minute or two minutes is not a problem now. It was a good rally for Citroen, because at least we have shown the car is capable of quick times. Maybe I'm disappointed not to get a podium, but we have to be positive."

Bugalski and his Spanish team mate Jesus Puras had dominated the first two days of the rally, setting fastest time after fastest time, to give the Xsara T4 a dazzling World Championship debut.

Third place for the moment is the property of Tommi Makinen and Mitsubishi after a typically consistent performance from the Finn. The Japanese manufacturer's second car driven by Freddy Loix was also well in the frame, the Belgian producing an excellent drive to fifth place, getting the better of the Fords of Carlos Sainz and Francois Delecour over the closing stages.

Sainz took the final point in sixth place with Delecour seventh. Richard Burns was eighth, his chances of a points finish ruined by gearbox problems on day one.

Alister McRae just missed out on a top 10 place, finishing 11th after a series of turbo problems on the Hyundai Accent.

Click here for the Rally results.