Delecour pledges support for Gronholm.

After a stormy San Remo Rally, in which he clashed with team-mate Gilles Panizzi, Francois Delecour has publicly pledged to do all he can to help Marcus Gronholm win this year's WRC title.

The fiery Frenchman, who is renowned for his short fuse, squared up to Panizzi over allegations that he had been spreading rumours about the rally leader's supposed illegal recce. Delecour denied that this was the case, but subsequent exchanges with Peugeot team management left him close to tears and refusing to speak to the press until the end of the three-day event.

After a stormy San Remo Rally, in which he clashed with team-mate Gilles Panizzi, Francois Delecour has publicly pledged to do all he can to help Marcus Gronholm win this year's WRC title.

The fiery Frenchman, who is renowned for his short fuse, squared up to Panizzi over allegations that he had been spreading rumours about the rally leader's supposed illegal recce. Delecour denied that this was the case, but subsequent exchanges with Peugeot team management left him close to tears and refusing to speak to the press until the end of the three-day event.

To make matters worse for the former Ford works driver, Panizzi went on to win his second event of the season - and his WRC career - adding San Remo to the Tour de Corse three weeks previously. Delecour finished as runner-up on both events, but garnered sufficient confidence behind the wheel of the rapidly improving 206WRC to claim that he will be able to help third team-mate Gronholm edge closer to the crown in the last two events of the year.

"I've been very pleased with my performance here," he said in Italy, "Peugeot has a good chance o winning the manufacturers' title now, because I can be quick on the last two rallies and, of course, Marcus can be quick anywhere..

"The car seems to be fast, competitive and reliable at the moment, so I am sure that we can fight in Australia and Great Britain. And, of course, I will try and help Marcus win the drivers' title if I can."

Gronholm finished an impressive fourth on the San Remo, producing three bonus points on what is his least favourite tarmac surface. The Finn, who was not eligible to add to Peugeot's manufacturers' championship score on the event, beat both Ford title rivals, Carlos Sainz and Colin McRae, while the fourth man in with a shot at the crown, Richard Burns, eliminated himself with a mistake on day two.

Gronholm now holds a five-point advantage over Burns, with McRae and Sainz tied for third, a further point back. The two final events of the year, in Australia and Great Britain, are both gravel events which suit the Finn, although he knows that his three rivals will also be at their strongest on the loose surface.

"I'm optimistic for the last two rallies now," he said, "even though I know that it will be a hard fight."

Peugeot took the lead in the manufacturers' series for the first time, but holds just a tenuous two-point advantage over Ford.

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