Gronholm to be stripped of Cyprus win?

The result of Sunday's Cyprus Rally, the fifth round of the 2004 FIA World Rally championship, in which Marcus Gronholm claimed his maiden win in the new Peugeot 307 WRC, are to remain provisional until tomorrow [Wednesday].

A statement from the organisers and the FIA, on the official Cyprus Rally 2004 website, revealed:

"At the Stewards meeting, after scrutineering of the Cyprus Rally 2004 the fifth round of the FIA World Rally Championship it was decided that a component on cars 5 and 6 and a component on cars 3 and 4 have to be checked against the series part.

"The check should be carried out on Wednesday 19th May 2004."

As such Gronholm's win [car #5], along with the fifth place finish of his team-mate, Harri Rovanpera [car #6], plus the Citroen's of Sebastien Loeb [car #3] and Carlos Sainz [car #4], who finished second and fourth respectively, could yet be overturned.

"Until then, the final official classification of the 2004 Cyprus Rally is to be considered subject to further technical checks by the FIA," added the statement.

Should the Peugeot's and Citroen's be deemed illegal, Markko Martin, will move up from third to first, while Subaru's duo, Petter Solberg and Mikko Hirvonen would complete the 'new look' podium.

More to follow tomorrow...