World Rally News

Peugeot's reigning World Rally Champion Marcus Gr?nholm has taken the French manufacturer to the top of this year's series with a stunning victory on the penultimate round, the Telstra Rally Australia.

SS 13 - Wellington Dam (45.42 kms):

Ford Martini World Rally Team co-driver Daniel Grataloup is reported to be 'stable and satisfactory' following an accident during stage 13 of the Rally Australia at Wellington Dam this morning.

Colin McRae and Nicky Grist produced a battling performance during today's second leg of the Rally Australia to hold fifth position in their Ford Focus RS World Rally Car after a controversial late night ruling yesterday effectively ended their hopes of victory.

The Australian Rally is the thirteenth and penultimate round of the 2001 FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers, Drivers and Production Car Drivers. It is also the final qualifying event for the Teams' Cup. It is back to the gravel for this and the final event of the season.

Tommi Makinen's new co-driver for Rally Australia will be Timo Hantunen. Hantunen steps in while regular co-driver Risto Mannisenmaki recovers following a back injury inflicted when the Mitsubishi crashed in the Tour de Corse.

Ford has retained double world champion Carlos Sainz and signed young Estonian driver Markko Martin from Subaru to partner Colin McRae for its FIA World Rally Championship campaign in 2002.

The Ford Martini World Rally team has announced today that Mark Higgins will drive the third official Ford entry on the Rally of Great Britain (23-25 November) - the final round of the 2001 FIA World Rally Championship.

Tommi Makinen's co-driver Risto Mannisenmaki under went a successful four-hour operation yesterday following the Mitsubishi's crash on Friday at the Tour de France. The team have released the following statement:

By the end of the Tour de Corse, the Subaru team felt plaesed with their efforts after securing seven championship points, thanks to the efforts - and teamwork - shown by saw the driving trio of Burns, Solberg and Martin.

Tommi Makinen's co-driver Risto Mannisenmaki is to undergo surgery on Monday to correct a back injury inflicted yesterday when the Mitsubishi crashed in SS5. The team have released the following statement:

The Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart crew of Freddy Loix and Sven Smeets have made significant inroads on the Tour de Corse leaderboard today, the result of considerable progress on the development of the Lancer Evolution WRC.

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart suffered a disappointing opening leg of the 45th Rallye de France / Tour de Corse with four-times World Champion Tommi Makinen and co-driver Risto Mannisenmaki retiring after an accident, and team-mates Freddy Loix and Sven Smeets losing significant time having to sto

Citroen driver Jesus Puras holds the upper hand on the 12th round of the FIA World Rally Championship, the Tour de Corse, which started from Ajaccio today.

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart will start the Tour de Corse, the 12th round of the 2001 FIA World Rally Championship, determined to extract the potential of its new car and press home its world title challenge.

Emanuele Dati's debut in the FIA World Rally Championship behind the wheel of the Jolly Club-prepared Ford Focus WRC will take place on Welsh gravel at Rally of Great Britain, the world series' ultimate round 14, Jolly Club's president Roman Vaskuj stated this morning.

Less than two weeks after the Sanremo Rally, this weekend sees rallying's superstars travel to the Mediterranean island of Corsica for another all-asphalt showdown.

Ricard Burns will drive for Peugeot next year in the FIA World Rally Championship according to reports by the BBC .

The Subaru World Rally Team announced today that Tommi Makinen will join the team in 2002. The four-time World Rally Champion, and co-driver Risto Mannisenmaki, will join Subaru on a two year contract.

Rumours abound that Tommi Makinen is on the verge of quitting long-time partner Mitsubishi in order to revive his world championship hopes.

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart drivers Tommi Makinen and Freddy Loix go to Corsica, the 12th round of the 2001 FIA World Rally Championship, determined to capitalise on Mitsubishi's strong position in the series.

Czech Roman Kresta had a bit of extra encouragement at last weekend's Sanremo Rally when F1 rookie and fellow Czech Tomas Enge turned up to give his fellow countryman some extra support.

After the ceremonial start on the tree-lined promenade of Sanremo at dusk Thursday night, the eleventh round of the FIA World Rally Championship, Rallye Sanremo, got underway yesterday morning with Hyundai Castrol World Rally Team crew Alister McRae and David Senior driving a determined day, and

Peugeot driver Gilles Panizzi holds a relatively comfortable lead on the 11th round of the FIA World Rally Championship, the Sanremo Rally, which continued in northern Italy today.