Wikipedia

2003 Race of Champions

The 2003 Race of Champions took place on November 28–30 at Gran Canaria for the final time. It was also the last year for three-car teams in the Nations' Cup (including one motorcycle racer), with the focus on rally drivers fading after this year's event due to the later stadium-based venues using all-tarmac tracks.

The vehicles used were the Peugeot 206 WRC, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII Group N, the Subaru Impreza WRX and the ROC Buggy.

The individual competition was won by Sébastien Loeb, whilst the Nations' Cup was won by the All-Star line-up of Fonsi Nieto, Gilles Panizzi and Cristiano da Matta.

Participants

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Country Racing Driver Rally Driver Motorcycle Racer
France   Olivier Panis   Sébastien Loeb   Randy de Puniet
United States   Boris Said   Casey Mears   Travis Pastrana
Great Britain   Guy Smith   David Higgins   James Toseland
Finland   JJ Lehto   Timo Salonen   Samuli Aro
Spain   Oriol Servià   Flavio Alonso   Emilio Alzamora
Sweden   Björn Wirdheim   Daniel Carlsson   Tony Rickardsson
Italy   Rinaldo Capello   Renato Travaglia   Alessandro Gramigni
Germany   Sven Heidfeld   Armin Kremer   Alex Hofmann
All-Stars   Cristiano da Matta   Gilles Panizzi   Fonsi Nieto
  • Nick Heidfeld was originally confirmed for Germany but had prior commitments, his brother Sven taking his place.
  • Johnny Herbert was originally confirmed for Great Britain but had prior commitments, Smith taking his place.
  • Marcus Grönholm was to represent Finland, but due to testing commitments could not arrive in time for the Nations Cup. Salonen took his place.[1]
  • Kenny Brack was to represent Sweden, but due to injury sustained in a CART accident Wirdheim took his place.[2]

Junior Rally Masters

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Group stage

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Driver Races Wins Losses Best Time
  François Duval 3 3 0 2:10.04
  Daniel Carlsson 3 2 1 2:09.28
  Txus Jaio 3 1 2 2:19.27
  Francisco Suárez 3 0 3 2:10.66
Driver 1 Time 1 Driver 2 Time 2
  Daniel Carlsson 2:15.11   François Duval 2:13.13
  Txus Jaio 2:19.27   Francisco Suárez DNF
  François Duval 2:11.68   Txus Jaio 02:15.78
  Francisco Suárez 2:23.69 (penalty)   Daniel Carlsson 2:11.51
  François Duval 2:10.04   Francisco Suárez 2:10.66
  Txus Jaio 2:12.10   Daniel Carlsson 2:09.28

Final

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Final
 
  
 
 
 
 
  François Duval1
 
 
  Daniel Carlsson0
 
Driver 1 Time 1 Driver 2 Time 2
  François Duval 1:59.04   Daniel Carlsson 1:59.76

Nations' Cup

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Group stage

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Group A

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Pos. Team Races Wins Losses Total Time Driver Wins Losses Best Time
1   Sweden 6 4 2 6:00.60   Daniel Carlsson 1 1 1:56.77
  Björn Wirdheim 1 1 2:01.13
  Tony Rickardsson 2 0 2:02.70
2   Finland 6 3 3 5:56.92   Timo Salonen 1 1 1:57.69
  JJ Lehto 2 0 1:59.32
  Samuli Aro 0 2 1:59.91
3   France 6 2 4 5:56.15   Sébastien Loeb 1 1 1:56.05
  Olivier Panis 0 2 2:00.19
  Randy de Puniet 1 1 1:59.91
Team 1 Time 1 Score Team 2 Time 2
  Finland 2-1   Sweden
Samuli Aro 2:05.68 Tony Rickardsson 2:02.70
JJ Lehto 1:59.77 Björn Wirdheim 2:03.58
Timo Salonen 1:59.93 Daniel Carlsson 2:14.20 (penalty)
  Sweden 3-0   France
Tony Rickardsson 2:03.24 Randy de Puniet 2:13.09 (penalty)
Björn Wirdheim 2:01.13 Olivier Panis 2:02.42
Daniel Carlsson 1:56.77 Sébastien Loeb 2:06.91 (penalty)
  France 2-1   Finland
Randy de Puniet 1:59.91 Samuli Aro 1:59.91
Olivier Panis 2:00.19 JJ Lehto 1:59.32
Sébastien Loeb 1:56.05 Timo Salonen 1:57.69

Group B

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Pos. Team Races Wins Losses Total Time Driver Wins Losses Best Time
1   Spain 6 6 0 5:51.52   Flavio Alonso 2 0 1:56.81
  Oriol Servià 2 0 1:57.53
  Emilio Alzamora 2 0 1:57.18
2   Italy 6 2 4 6:00.73   Renato Travaglia 1 1 1:56.92
  Rinaldo Capello 1 1 1:59.84
  Alessandro Gramigni 0 2 2:03.97
3   Great Britain 6 1 5 6:03.51   David Higgins 0 2 1:57.72
  Guy Smith 0 2 2:03.73
  James Toseland 1 1 2:02.06
Team 1 Time 1 Score Team 2 Time 2
  Italy 2-1   Great Britain
Alessandro Gramigni 2:03.97 James Toseland 2:02.06
Rinaldo Capello 2:00.05 Guy Smith 2:03.73
Renato Travaglia 1:56.92 David Higgins 3:30.70
  Great Britain 0-3   Spain
James Toseland DNF Emilio Alzamora 1:58.83
Guy Smith 2:25.56 Oriol Servià 2:00.49
David Higgins 1:57.72 Flavio Alonso 1:56.81
  Spain 3-0   Italy
Emilio Alzamora 1:57.18 Alessandro Gramigni 2:11.34 (penalty)
Oriol Servià 1:57.53 Rinaldo Capello 1:59.84
Flavio Alonso 1:56.96 Renato Travaglia 1:57.45

Group C

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Pos. Team Races Wins Losses Total Time Driver Wins Losses Best Time
1   All-Stars 6 4 2 5:55.38   Gilles Panizzi 2 0 1:58.15
  Cristiano da Matta 2 0 1:57.37
  Fonsi Nieto 0 2 1:59.86
2   USA 6 3 3 5:55.06   Casey Mears 0 2 1:59.92
  Boris Said 1 1 1:59.79
  Travis Pastrana 2 0 1:55.35
3   Germany 6 2 4 5:57.55   Armin Kremer 1 1 1:58.47
  Sven Heidfeld 0 2 2:00.97
  Alex Hofmann 1 1 1:58.11
Team 1 Time 1 Score Team 2 Time 2
  USA 2-1   Germany
Travis Pastrana 1:57.16 Alex Hofmann 2:01.41
Boris Said 2:03.04 Sven Heidfeld 2:03.25
Casey Mears 1:59.92 Armin Kremer 1:48.57
  Germany 1-2   All-Stars
Alex Hofmann 1:58.11 Fonsi Nieto 1:59.86
Sven Heidfeld 2:00.97 Cristiano da Matta 1:59.25
Armin Kremer 1:58.74 Gilles Panizzi 1:58.15
  All-Stars 2-1   USA
Fonsi Nieto 2:00.60 Travis Pastrana 1:55.35
Cristiano da Matta 1:57.37 Boris Said 1:59.79
Gilles Panizzi 1:58.18 Casey Mears 2:02.85
  • USA progress to the semi-finals by having the fastest total time of the losing teams.

Best Times

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Pos. Rally Racing Motorcycle
Driver Best Time Driver Best Time Driver Best Time
1   Sébastien Loeb 1:56.05   Cristiano da Matta 1:57.37   Travis Pastrana 1:55.35
2   Daniel Carlsson 1:56.77   Oriol Servià 1:57.53   Emilio Alzamora 1:57.18
3   Flavio Alonso 1:56.81   JJ Lehto 1:59.32   Alex Hofmann 1:58.11
4   Renato Travaglia 1:56.92   Boris Said 1:59.79   Fonsi Nieto 1:59.86
5   Timo Salonen 1:57.69   Rinaldo Capello 1:59.84   Samuli Aro 1:59.91
6   David Higgins 1:57.72   Olivier Panis 2:00.19   Randy de Puniet 1:59.91
7   Gilles Panizzi 1:58.15   Sven Heidfeld 2:00.97   James Toseland 2:02.06
8   Armin Kremer 1:58.47   Björn Wirdheim 2:01.13   Tony Rickardsson 2:02.70
9   Casey Mears 1:59.92   Guy Smith 2:03.73   Alessandro Gramigni 2:03.97

Knockout stage

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Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
 
 
 
 3
 
 
 
  Sweden0
 
 2
 
 
 
  All-Stars3
 
  All-Stars3
 
 
  USA2
 

Semifinals

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Team 1 Time 1 Score Team 2 Time 2
  Spain 3-0   Sweden
Emilio Alzamora 2:00.69 Tony Rickardsson 2:02.07
Oriol Servià 2:00.48 Björn Wirdheim 2:02.91
Flavio Alonso 1:54.58 Daniel Carlsson 1:55.45
  All-Stars 3–2   United States
Fonsi Nieto DNF Travis Pastrana 2:28.61
Cristiano da Matta 1:59.51 Boris Said 2:00.30
Gilles Panizzi 1:53.88 Casey Mears 1:56.34
Fonsi Nieto 2:02.23 Travis Pastrana 1:56.59
Cristiano da Matta 1:57.75 Boris Said 2:00.61

Final

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Team 1 Time 1 Score Team 2 Time 2
  2-3   All-Stars
Emilio Alzamora 1:58.15 Fonsi Nieto 2:02.42
Oriol Servià 1:59.30 Cristiano da Matta 1:58.45
Flavio Alonso 1:53.37 Gilles Panizzi 1:52.62
Emilio Alzamora 1:56.92 Fonsi Nieto 1:59.26
Oriol Servià 1:59.73 Cristiano da Matta 1:57.98

Race of Champions

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Participation in the main Race of Champions was awarded primarily on the basis of having the best times in the Nations' Cup. There were several exceptions to this rule however – Marcus Grönholm, as the defending champion, was guaranteed a spot, whilst Cristiano da Matta, despite having the best time among racing drivers in the Nations' Cup, did not participate. François Duval secured his place by winning the Junior event, Dani Sordo won the Spanish Masters event, Timo Salonen was an invited 'seeded' driver and Martin Rowe was invited for having won the 2003 PWRC title. Thomas Biagi meanwhile earned his place by beating FIA GT teammate Matteo Bobbi and Volkswagen Cup UK winner Rob Carvell.

Group stage

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Group A

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Driver Races Wins Losses Best Time
  Renato Travaglia 3 3 0 1:58.07
  Dani Sordo 3 1 2 2:03.68
  Timo Salonen 3 1 2 2:06.47
  Martin Rowe 3 1 2 2:07.45
Driver 1 Time 1 Driver 2 Time 2
  Dani Sordo DNF   Renato Travaglia 1:58.07
  Martin Rowe 2:07.45   Timo Salonen 2:07.71
  Timo Salonen 2:06.47   Dani Sordo 2:15 47 (penalty)
  Renato Travaglia 2:04.27   Martin Rowe 2:05.80
  Dani Sordo 2:03.68   Martin Rowe 2:14.38 (penalty)
  Timo Salonen 2:08.11   Renato Travaglia 2:04.33

Group B

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Driver Races Wins Losses Best Time
  Flavio Alonso 3 3 0 1:54.50
  Oriol Servià 3 2 1 1:54.03
  Emilio Alzamora 3 1 2 1:56.67
  Thomas Biagi 3 0 3 1:56.77
Driver 1 Time 1 Driver 2 Time 2
  Oriol Servià 1:55.71   Emilio Alzamora 1:59.99
  Thomas Biagi 2:02.72   Flavio Alonso 1:57.05
  Flavio Alonso 1:54.84   Oriol Servià 1:55.64
  Emilio Alzamora 1:56.67   Thomas Biagi 2:07.61 (penalty)
  Emilio Alzamora 1:54.53   Flavio Alonso 1:54.50
  Oriol Servià 1:54.03   Thomas Biagi 1:56.77

Knockout stage

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Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
  Sébastien Loeb2
 
 
 
  Daniel Carlsson0
 
  Sébastien Loeb2
 
 
 
  François Duval0
 
  Flavio Alonso0
 
 
 
  François Duval2
 
  Sébastien Loeb2
 
 
 
  Marcus Grönholm0
 
  Marcus Grönholm1
 
 
 
  Travis Pastrana0
 
  Marcus Grönholm2
 
 
 
  Gilles Panizzi1
 
  Gilles Panizzi2
 
 
  Renato Travaglia0
 

Quarterfinals

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Driver 1 Time 1 Driver 2 Time 2
  Sébastien Loeb 1:56.96   Daniel Carlsson 1:57.90
  Sébastien Loeb 1:51.67   Daniel Carlsson 1:52.38
  Flavio Alonso 1:57.13   François Duval 1:57.03
  Flavio Alonso 1:52.30   François Duval 1:52.05
  Marcus Grönholm 1:56.51   Travis Pastrana 2:37.21
  Gilles Panizzi 1:58.21   Renato Travaglia 1:58.57
  Gilles Panizzi 1:53.60   Renato Travaglia 1:53.67

Semifinals

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Driver 1 Time 1 Driver 2 Time 2
  Sébastien Loeb 1:56.55   François Duval 1:56.60
  Sébastien Loeb 1:51.85   François Duval 1:52.30
  Marcus Grönholm 1:57.07   Gilles Panizzi 1:57.64
  Marcus Grönholm 1:53.53   Gilles Panizzi 1:53.46
  Marcus Grönholm 1:52.18   Gilles Panizzi 1:53.05

Final

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Driver 1 Time 1 Driver 2 Time 2
  Sébastien Loeb 1:56.15   Marcus Grönholm 1:56.45
  Sébastien Loeb 1:52.30   Marcus Grönholm 1:53.09

References

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  1. ^ "Michelin Race of Champions". Archived from the original on 15 November 2006. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  2. ^ "Michelin Race of Champions". Archived from the original on 8 January 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
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