World Rally News

Colin McRae and Nicky Grist, leading Ford drivers in sixth place after three special stages of the New Zealand Rally, retired their Focus RS after going off the road 1.5km from the end of Whaanga Coast.

The Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart crew of Jani Paasonen and Arto Kapanen have set a stunning pace in the opening leg of Rally New Zealand, the Finns setting their first fastest stage time to move as high as third overall before dropping to fifth, by just nine-tenths of a second, at the conclusion

Reigning world champion Richard Burns says he won't give up on retaining his title until the stats say it is impossible for him to do so, but admits team-mate Marcus Gronholm would need to make some pretty big mistakes to allow him to keep his crown.

The FIA, motorsport's governing body, has announced that the Safari Rally has been dropped from the 2003 World Rally Championship calendar.

After the asphalt of Sanremo, Skoda Motorsport face a different challenge on the other side of the world - Rally New Zealand (October 3-6). The team are bringing two Octavia WRCs to the Antipodean event for the first time in several years.

Citroen Sport boss Guy Frequelin has expressed his joy after signing 1995 World Rally Champion Colin McRae.

This afternoon at the Paris Motorshow four times World Rally Champion Tommi M?kinen revealed a prototype of next year's Subaru Impreza World Rally Car - the WRC2003.

Ford Rallye Sport has today revealed that Colin McRae will not be staying with the team in 2003. A Ford spokesperson told British newspaper The Guardian : "We have amicably agreed that we will not be renewing his contract."

Italian driver Andrea Dallavilla has set up an exciting conclusion to the FIA Junior World Rally championship, by securing victory in the category on his home round of the series, the Rallye Sanremo.

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart today announced that they have decided to withdraw car number 8, crewed by Alister McRae and David Senior, on medical grounds.

Frenchman Gilles Panizzi has strengthened his grip on the 11th round of the FIA World Rally Championship, the Sanremo Rally, which continued in northern Italy today.

Peugeot Sport UK have agreed to release Super 1600 Works driver Justin Dale to pursue a career in the FIA World Rally Championship.

Still considering his options on where to drive next year, Colin McRae is talking to Subaru, the team with which he won his 1995 world championship, about a possible return for 2003.

The mountains of Liguria played host to today's opening leg of the San Remo Rally, the fifth and final asphalt rally of the season.

Peugeot 206 WRCs fill two of the top three places on the 11th round of the FIA World Rally Championship, the Sanremo Rally, which started in earnest in northern Italy today.

Frenchman Gilles Panizzi has grabbed the lead of the 11th round of the FIA World Rally Championship, the Rallye Sanremo, which started in earnest in northern Italy today.

Forced to sit out two rounds of the World Rally Championship following a bad fall in his house, Gilles Panizzi returns to the Peugeot squad for its assault on the 2002 Sanremo Rally.

The genteel pace of life in the Italian Riviera resort of Sanremo will be in marked contrast to the fast and furious activity in the mountains high above the town when the region hosts round 11 of the FIA World Rally Championship.

Following a remarkable period of rehabilitation over the two weeks since his horrendous accident on Rallye Deutschland, Armin Schwarz has been signed off as fit to contest the Rallye Sanremo later this month.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation ( "MMC" ) today announced that the Marlboro sponsorship of the Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart team will cease at the end of the 2002 FIA World Rally Championship season. Mitsubishi released the following statement:

Natalie Barratt will contest the final three rounds of the 2002 FIA World Rally Championship - in New Zealand, Australia and on the Network Q Rally of Great Britain - in a Hyundai Accent WRC?.

Despite Sebastien Loeb confidently leading the French manufacturer to its second World Rally Championship success last weekend in Germany, Colin McRae's name continues to be linked to a possible berth at Citroen next season.

SS18 - St Wendeler Land 1 (17.71 kms): Burns fastest through SS18; Loeb second; Gronholm third; Rovanpera fourth; Colin McRae fifth; Duval leads the JWRC; Loeb leads the overall rally by 8.1 secs. Stage times and overall standings after SS18.

A dramatic final day of the Rallye Deutschland proved significant throughout the entry. While several WRC contenders suffered, so did the FIA Junior World Rally Championship crews. Of the 13 drivers who completed yesterday's second leg, only nine were left in the event at the finish.