The 2003 Rally Finland (formally the 53rd Neste Rally Finland) was the ninth round of the 2003 World Rally Championship. The race was held over four days between 7 August and 10 August 2003, and was based in Jyväskylä, Finland. Ford's Markko Märtin won the race, his 2nd win in the World Rally Championship.
Background Entry list No. Driver Co-Driver Entrant CarTyre World Rally Championship manufacturer entries 1 Marcus Grönholm Timo Rautiainen Marlboro Peugeot Total Peugeot 206 WRC 2 Richard Burns Robert Reid Marlboro Peugeot Total Peugeot 206 WRC 3 Harri Rovanperä Risto Pietiläinen Marlboro Peugeot Total Peugeot 206 WRC 4 Markko Märtin Michael Park Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Focus RS WRC '03 5 François Duval Stéphane Prévot Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Focus RS WRC '03 6 Mikko Hirvonen Jarmo Lehtinen Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Focus RS WRC '02 7 Petter Solberg Phil Mills 555 Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 8 Tommi Mäkinen Kaj Lindström 555 Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 10 Armin Schwarz Manfred Hiemer Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai Accent WRC3 11 Freddy Loix Sven Smeets Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai Accent WRC3 12 Jussi Välimäki Tero Gardemeister Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai Accent WRC3 14 Didier Auriol Denis Giraudet Škoda Motorsport Škoda Fabia WRC 15 Toni Gardemeister Paavo Lukander Škoda Motorsport Škoda Fabia WRC 17 Colin McRae Derek Ringer Citroën Total WRT Citroën Xsara WRC 18 Sébastien Loeb Daniel Elena Citroën Total WRT Citroën Xsara WRC 19 Carlos Sainz Marc Martí Citroën Total WRT Citroën Xsara WRC World Rally Championship entries 20 Jari-Matti Latvala Miikka Anttila Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Focus RS WRC '02 21 Antony Warmbold Gemma Price AW Rally Team Ford Focus RS WRC '02 22 Juuso Pykälistö Esko Mertsalmi Bozian Racing Peugeot 206 WRC 23 Janne Tuohino Jukka Aho Janne Tuohino Ford Focus RS WRC '02 24 Sebastian Lindholm Timo Hantunen Peugeot Sport Finland Peugeot 206 WRC 25 Kaj Kuistila Kari Jokinen Kaj Kuistila Ford Focus RS WRC '02 26 Ari Vatanen Juha Repo Bozian Racing Peugeot 206 WRC 27 Jari Viita Riku Rousku Jari Viita Ford Focus RS WRC '01 33 Alistair Ginley Rory Kennedy Alistair Ginley Ford Focus RS WRC '01 34 Tobias Johansson Benny Locander Tobias Johansson Toyota Corolla WRC 35 Henning Solberg Cato Menkerud Henning Solberg Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6.5 117 Gareth Jones Mark Jones Gareth Jones Toyota Corolla WRC JWRC entries 51 Mirco Baldacci Giovanni Bernacchini Purity Auto Fiat Punto S1600 52 Daniel Carlsson Matthias Andersson Suzuki Sport Suzuki Ignis S1600 54 Kosti Katajamäki Jani Laaksonen Volkswagen Racing Volkswagen Polo S1600 57 Dimitar Iliev Yanaki Yanakiev Auto Sport Italia Peugeot 206 S1600 58 Marcos Ligato Rubén García Top Run SRL Fiat Punto S1600 61 Brice Tirabassi Jacques-Julien Renucci Renault Sport Renault Clio S1600 62 Oscar Svedlund Björn Nilsson Volkswagen Racing Volkswagen Polo S1600 63 Massimo Ceccato Mitia Dotta Top Run SRL Fiat Punto S1600 64 Ville-Pertti Teuronen Harri Kaapro Suzuki Sport Suzuki Ignis S1600 65 Abdo Feghali Joseph Matar Astra Racing Ford Puma S1600 67 Alessandro Broccoli Simona Girelli Sab Motorsport Opel Corsa S1600 69 Salvador Cañellas Jr. Xavier Amigó Suzuki Sport Suzuki Ignis S1600 70 Guy Wilks Phil Pugh Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Puma S1600 71 Urmo Aava Kuldar Sikk Suzuki Sport Suzuki Ignis S1600 74 Kris Meeke Chris Patterson Opel Motorsport Opel Corsa S1600 76 Luca Cecchettini Marco Muzzarelli Top Run SRL Fiat Punto S1600 78 Vladan Vasiljevic Sebastian Geipel Peugeot Dealer Team Sweden Peugeot 206 S1600 Source:
Itinerary All dates and times are EEST (UTC+3). Date Time No. Stage name Distance Leg 1 — 140.36 km 7 August 19:00 SS1 Killeri 1 2.06 km 8 August 09:00 SS2 Jukojärvi 1 22.31 km 09:31 SS3 Kruununperä 1 20.17 km 11:48 SS4 Valkola 8.42 km 12:31 SS5 Lankamaa 23.47 km 13:22 SS6 Laukaa 11.82 km 14:20 SS7 Ruuhimäki 7.57 km 16:37 SS8 Jukojärvi 2 22.31 km 17:08 SS9 Kruununperä 2 20.17 km 19:50 SS10 Killeri 2 2.06 km Leg 2 — 167.92 km 9 August 08:04 SS11 Päijälä 21.95 km 08:39 SS12 Ouninpohja 1 33.24 km 11:29 SS13 Urria 10.00 km 12:47 SS14 Ouninpohja 2 33.24 km 13:50 SS15 Ehikki 14.91 km 16:18 SS16 Moksi — Leustu 40.96 km 17:30 SS17 Himos 13.62 km Leg 3 — 100.90 km 10 August 08:56 SS18 Parkkola 1 19.88 km 09:56 SS19 Mökkiperä 1 13.96 km 10:30 SS20 Palsankylä 25.46 km 12:38 SS21 Kuohu 7.76 km 13:05 SS22 Parkkola 2 19.88 km 14:05 SS23 Mökkiperä 2 13.96 km
Results Overall Driver Co-driver Team Car Time Points 1 4 Markko Märtin Michael Park Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Focus RS WRC '03 3:21:51.7 10 2 7 Petter Solberg Phil Mills 555 Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 3:22:50.6 +58.98 3 2 Richard Burns Robert Reid Marlboro Peugeot Total Peugeot 206 WRC 3:22:51.8 +1:00.16 4 19 Carlos Sainz Marc Martí Citroën Total WRT Citroën Xsara WRC 3:23:50.7 +1:59.05 5 18 Sébastien Loeb Daniel Elena Citroën Total WRT Citroën Xsara WRC 3:24:40.4 +2:48.74 6 8 Tommi Mäkinen Kaj Lindström 555 Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 3:25:16.9 +3:25.23 7 23 Janne Tuohino Jukka Aho Janne Tuohino Ford Focus RS WRC '02 3:26:14.6 +4:22.92 8 24 Sebastian Lindholm Timo Hantunen Peugeot Sport Finland Peugeot 206 WRC 3:26:31.2 +4:39.51
World Rally Cars Classification Position Driver Co-driver Entrant Car Time Points Event Class 1 1 4 Markko Märtin Michael Park Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Focus RS WRC '03 3:21:51.7 10 2 2 7 Petter Solberg Phil Mills 555 Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 3:22:50.6 +58.98 3 3 2 Richard Burns Robert Reid Marlboro Peugeot Total Peugeot 206 WRC 3:22:51.8 +1:00.16 4 4 19 Carlos Sainz Marc Martí Citroën Total WRT Citroën Xsara WRC 3:23:50.7 +1:59.05 5 5 18 Sébastien Loeb Daniel Elena Citroën Total WRT Citroën Xsara WRC 3:24:40.4 +2:48.74 6 6 8 Tommi Mäkinen Kaj Lindström 555 Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 3:25:16.9 +3:25.23 10 7 11 Freddy Loix Sven Smeets Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai Accent WRC3 3:30:11.6 +8:19.90 12 8 10 Armin Schwarz Manfred Hiemer Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai Accent WRC3 3:34:43.2 +12:51.50 Retired SS19 5 François Duval Stéphane Prévot Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Focus RS WRC '03 Accident 0 Retired SS19 12 Jussi Välimäki Tero Gardemeister Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai Accent WRC3 Accident 0 Retired SS16 17 Colin McRae Derek Ringer Citroën Total WRT Citroën Xsara WRC Accident 0 Retired SS15 1 Marcus Grönholm Timo Rautiainen Marlboro Peugeot Total Peugeot 206 WRC Lost wheel 0 Retired SS13 15 Toni Gardemeister Paavo Lukander Škoda Motorsport Škoda Fabia WRC Engine 0 Retired SS12 3 Harri Rovanperä Risto Pietiläinen Marlboro Peugeot Total Peugeot 206 WRC Accident 0 Retired SS12 6 Mikko Hirvonen Jarmo Lehtinen Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Focus RS WRC '02 Engine 0 Retired SS2 14 Didier Auriol Denis Giraudet Škoda Motorsport Škoda Fabia WRC Driver injury 0
Special stages Day Stage Stage name Length Winner Car Time Leg 1 (7 Aug) SS1 Killeri 1 2.06 km Markko Märtin Ford Focus RS WRC '03 1:18.6 Markko Märtin Leg 1 (8 Aug) SS2 Jukojärvi 1 22.31 km Marcus Grönholm Markko Märtin Peugeot 206 WRCFord Focus RS WRC '03 10:50.8 SS3 Kruununperä 1 20.17 km Markko Märtin Ford Focus RS WRC '03 9:12.4 SS4 Valkola 8.42 km Marcus Grönholm Peugeot 206 WRC 4:25.4 SS5 Lankamaa 23.47 km Marcus Grönholm Peugeot 206 WRC 11:26.0 Marcus Grönholm SS6 Laukaa 11.82 km Markko Märtin Ford Focus RS WRC '03 5:46.1 SS7 Ruuhimäki 7.57 km Richard Burns Peugeot 206 WRC 4:03.4 SS8 Jukojärvi 2 22.31 km Markko Märtin Ford Focus RS WRC '03 10:40.1 SS9 Kruununperä 2 20.17 km Markko Märtin Ford Focus RS WRC '03 9:03.0 Markko Märtin SS10 Killeri 2 2.06 km Marcus Grönholm Peugeot 206 WRC 1:19.1 Leg 2 (9 Aug) SS11 Päijälä 21.95 km Marcus Grönholm Peugeot 206 WRC 11:21.4 SS12 Ouninpohja 1 33.24 km Marcus Grönholm Peugeot 206 WRC 15:31.0 Marcus Grönholm SS13 Urria 10.00 km Richard Burns Peugeot 206 WRC 4:48.4 SS14 Ouninpohja 2 33.24 km Colin McRae Citroën Xsara WRC 15:25.1 Markko Märtin SS15 Ehikki 14.91 km Richard Burns Peugeot 206 WRC 6:52.6 SS16 Moksi — Leustu 40.96 km Markko Märtin Ford Focus RS WRC '03 20:39.2 SS17 Himos 13.62 km Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 7:30.1 Leg 3 (10 Aug) SS18 Parkkola 1 19.88 km Markko Märtin Ford Focus RS WRC '03 9:53.0 SS19 Mökkiperä 1 13.96 km Richard Burns Peugeot 206 WRC 6:56.0 SS20 Palsankylä 25.46 km Richard Burns Peugeot 206 WRC 13:31.2 SS21 Kuohu 7.76 km Richard Burns Peugeot 206 WRC 3:45.3 SS22 Parkkola 2 19.88 km Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 9:39.7 SS23 Mökkiperä 2 13.96 km Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 6:47.8
Championship standings Drivers' championships Co-drivers' championships Manufacturers' championshipsMoveDriverPointsMoveCo-driverPointsMoveManufacturerPoints 1 Richard Burns 49 Robert Reid 49 Marlboro Peugeot Total 101 2 Carlos Sainz 44 Marc Martí 44 Citroën Total WRT 97 3 Marcus Grönholm 38 Timo Rautiainen 38 Ford Motor Co. Ltd. 60 4 1 Petter Solberg 38 1 Phil Mills 38 555 Subaru World Rally Team 60 5 1 Sébastien Loeb 37 1 Daniel Elena 37 Škoda Motorsport 20
Junior World Rally Championship Classification Position Driver Co-driver Entrant Car Time Points Event Class 19 1 52 Daniel Carlsson Matthias Andersson Suzuki Sport Suzuki Ignis S1600 3:52:22.9 10 20 2 61 Brice Tirabassi Jacques-Julien Renucci Renault Sport Renault Clio S1600 3:53:19.8 +56.98 24 3 70 Guy Wilks Phil Pugh Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Puma S1600 3:58:05.9 +5:43.06 25 4 71 Urmo Aava Kuldar Sikk Suzuki Sport Suzuki Ignis S1600 4:01:04.6 +8:41.75 26 5 69 Salvador Cañellas Jr. Xavier Amigó Suzuki Sport Suzuki Ignis S1600 4:01:09.8 +8:46.94 27 6 67 Alessandro Broccoli Simona Girelli Sab Motorsport Opel Corsa S1600 4:03:31.3 +11:08.43 30 7 58 Marcos Ligato Rubén García Top Run SRL Fiat Punto S1600 4:09:29.5 +17:06.62 33 8 62 Oscar Svedlund Björn Nilsson Volkswagen Racing Volkswagen Polo S1600 4:12:50.9 +20:28.01 Retired SS22 63 Massimo Ceccato Mitia Dotta Top Run SRL Fiat Punto S1600 Accident 0 Retired SS19 74 Kris Meeke Chris Patterson Opel Motorsport Opel Corsa S1600 Electrical 0 Retired SS14 54 Kosti Katajamäki Jani Laaksonen Volkswagen Racing Volkswagen Polo S1600 Accident 0 Retired SS12 64 Ville-Pertti Teuronen Harri Kaapro Suzuki Sport Suzuki Ignis S1600 Accident 0 Retired SS6 51 Mirco Baldacci Giovanni Bernacchini Purity Auto Fiat Punto S1600 Driveshaft 0 Retired SS6 57 Dimitar Iliev Yanaki Yanakiev Auto Sport Italia Peugeot 206 S1600 Mechanical 0 Retired SS5 76 Luca Cecchettini Marco Muzzarelli Top Run SRL Fiat Punto S1600 Accident 0 Retired SS1 65 Abdo Feghali Joseph Matar Astra Racing Ford Puma S1600 Accident 0 Retired SS1 78 Vladan Vasiljevic Sebastian Geipel Peugeot Dealer Team Sweden Peugeot 206 S1600 Mechanical 0
Special stages