SS, La Trona 1: Citroen stunning straight out of box

Jesus Puras, who was cleared to start the Catalunya Rally despite accusations that the Spaniard had illegally recced the route, was fastest ahead of a trio of Peugeots.

Citroen and Peugeot are stablemates within the PSA automotive empire, but despite Citroen only running four WRC events this season, PSA CEO Jean-Martin Folz has said that the newcomer can fight on an equal footing with Peugeot. The Xsara proved a revelation in a number of low-key warm-up events and its opening form on Spain's round of the WRC has confirmed its potency.

Asphalt specialist Puras, who was only given the all-clear to start by the event stewards late last night (Thursday), was 1.0s faster than Didier Auriol, with Marcus Gronholm and Gilles Panizzi just 0.2s and 0.8s further back respectively.

Subaru's Richard Burns was fifth quickest on the 12.90km La Trona test, ahead of Petter Solberg's Subaru and the Mitsubishi of points-leader Tommi Makinen.

Ford, which has gambled on taking both of its tyre options as full tarmac-spec Pirellis, finished the stage in eighth, 12th and 13th, with Francois Delecour, local hero Carlos Sainz and Colin McRae - who stalled on the startline - respectively.

Using Makinen as a benchmark, the speed of the Citroens and Peugeots on the Catalan asphalt can be shown by the splits at the halfway point. Puras was a full 4s up at half-distance, with Auriol 3.8s to the good and Gilles Panizzi 2.9s ahead. In contrast, Ford's Sainz was 1.3s behind the Finn.


Jesus Puras, Citroen, 8m24.8s
Didier Auriol, Peugeot, 8m25.8s
Marcus Gronholm, Peugeot, 8m26.0s
Gilles Panizzi, Peugeot, 8m26.6s
Richard Burns, Subaru, 8m27.2s
Petter Solberg, Subaru, 8m29.5s


Jesus Puras, Citroen, 8m24.8s
Didier Auriol, Peugeot, +1.0
Marcus Gronholm, Peugeot, +1.2s
Gilles Panizzi, Peugeot, +1.8s
Richard Burns, Subaru, +2.4s
Petter Solberg, Subaru, +4.7s
Tommi Makinen, Mitsubishi, +4.8s
Francois Delecour, Ford, +7.2
Markko Martin, Subaru, +7.5s
Freddy Loix, Mitsubishi, +7.7s