Catalunya: Panizzi reigns in Spain
Gilles Panizzi celebrated his second win from two events at Rallye Catalunya this afternoon and moves to within a point of team-mate Marcus Gronholm at the top of the drivers championship
The French asphalt specialist dominated the event, round four of the World Rally Championship leading start to finish. He had a enough of a lead to entertain the crowds with doughnuts in the middle of SS15. As a result Panizzi now has 20 World Championship points to Gronholm's 21.
Panizzi's team-mate and reigning World Rally Champion Richard Burns finished second, 37.3secs behind Panizzi. Burns now lies third in the drivers championship behind his two team-mates and has helped the French manufacturer extend its advantage at the top of the manufacturers' championship. Peugeot now has 52 points, more than double that of second placed manufacturer Ford with 25 points.
Philippe Bugalski, the sole remaining Citroen after Sebastien Loeb's demise this morning takes the final podium position, but Citroen's limited WRC programme this year excludes them from gaining manufacturer points.
Marcus Gronholm was the third Peugeot home in fourth position with young Norwegian Petter Solberg completing the top five in his Subaru Impreza.
Colin McRae celebrated a well-deserved sixth place and one World Championship point, having battled back to fitness after his crash in Corsica. Harri Rovanpera was seventh in a Peugeot 206 WRC.
Markko Martin finished eighth overall with Francois Delecour in ninth, his consolation collecting one World Championship Manufacturer point for Mitsubishi. His team-mate Alister McRae finished 13th.
The leading Hyundai home was Freddy Loix in 10th position overall, while Toni Gardemeister took Skoda's honours finishing 11th in the Octavia WRC.
The next round of the World Rally Championship is the Cyprus Rally which starts on April 19.
Share Or Save This Story
BTCC champion Hill sets target for new GT career
Watch LIVE: Nurburgring 24 Hours Top Qualifying 1, 2 & 3
What to watch out for at the 2026 Nurburgring 24 Hours
Nurburgring 24 Hours: Verstappen completes first night laps as rain disrupts running
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments