Gronholm: “This hasn’t sunk in yet…”
New World Rally Champion Marcus Gronholm says he is amazed that what should have been a learning year has given him the title at his first full attempt
After years of trying to break into the big time on shoestring budgets, Gronholm's 2000 campaign was his first in a full-time works drive. The 32-year-old Finn won the Swedish, Finland and New Zealand rallies for Peugeot and clinched the title with second on the Network Q Rally of Great Britain.
"It hasn't sunk in yet, but it's a good feeling of course," he said. "We didn't expect to win this year - I came to learn, but we won the title!"
Gronholm made sure of his title with a steady run to 11th fastest on the final stage, Margam 2.
"I took the last stage very slowly," he said. "[Co-driver] Timo [Rautiainen] kept telling me 'brake, brake, brake', then at the last corner he just said 'now it's very close'."
Gronholm paid tribute to his late father, who was killed rallying, and to Richard Burns, the man who finished second in the championship after winning the Rally GB.
"Maybe Richard has been unlucky this year," said Gronholm, "and sometimes we have been unlucky, but perhaps it will be his turn in 2001?"
To read Rally GB: winners' press conference click here.
To see the final standings, click here.
To see the schedule click here. (NOTE: All times are in GMT)
To see final championship standings click here.
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