Peugeot boss slams own team
Peugeot Sport principal Corrado Provera has issued a damning report on his team's performance on Rally Finland after seeing the French squad's advantage over rivals Citroen cut to just four points in the WRC manufacturers' title chase
Richard Burns' third place in Finland - and the six points it brought - was the team's lowest points haul on a rally since the season opener in Monte Carlo. Harri Rovanpera crashed on the second stage of the event, dropping him out of contention right at the start. Marcus Gronholm suffered a broken wheel bearing while leading the rally, and Burns was deprived of fighting for the win when his 206 suffered a similar problem to Gronholm on Saturday evening.
"It's clear that this rally has been totally disappointing for us," said Provera. "We came here expected to score points over Citroen and as it is we have given points away. We simply haven't been worthy of our role as reigning world champions."
Richard Burns fought tooth-and-nail with Petter Solberg over the final day of the rally, only to be pipped on the final stage. But Provera said Burns' third place was better than no points at all.
"We have handicapped ourselves on this event from the start, but our consolation once again is the performance of Richard Burns, who has been excellent throughout all three days," added the Italian.
"I preferred him to come back to us in third than taking unnecessary risk and to second. He is fighting for his own drivers' championship and our manufacturers' championship at the same time and I know he did everything possible here. I can only tell him 'well done!'"
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