The 2003 Wales Rally GB (formally the 59th Wales Rally GB) was the fourteenth round of the 2003 World Rally Championship. The race was held over four days between 6 November and 9 November 2003, and was based in Cardiff, Great Britain. Subaru's Petter Solberg won the race, his 5th 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 Freddy Loix Sven Smeets 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 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 '01 21 Gilles Panizzi Hervé Panizzi Bozian Racing Peugeot 206 WRC 22 Roman Kresta Jan Tománek Bozian Racing Peugeot 206 WRC 23 Antony Warmbold Gemma Price AW Rally Team Ford Focus RS WRC '02 24 Juuso Pykälistö Risto Mannisenmäki Bozian Racing Peugeot 206 WRC 25 Daniel Solà Álex Romaní Citroën Sport Citroën Xsara WRC 26 Jan Kopecký Filip Schovánek Škoda Matador Team Škoda Octavia WRC 27 Steve Perez Jonty Bolsover Steve Perez Ford Focus RS WRC '02 33 Alistair Ginley Rory Kennedy Alistair Ginley Ford Focus RS WRC '01 34 Manfred Stohl Ilka Minor Stohl Racing Peugeot 206 WRC 35 Tobias Johansson Per Carlsson Tobias Johansson Toyota Corolla WRC 37 Andreas Eriksson Pecka Svensson Andreas Eriksson Ford Focus RS WRC '02 38 Tapio Laukkanen Harri Kaapro Tapio Laukkanen Subaru Impreza S7 WRC '01 103 Eamonn Boland Francis Regan Eamonn Boland Subaru Impreza S7 WRC '01 104 Julian Reynolds Ieuan Thomas Julian Reynolds Subaru Impreza 555 105 Jozef Béreš Jr. Petr Starý Jozef Béreš Jr. Toyota Corolla WRC 106 Jimmy McRae Pauline Gullick Jimmy McRae Subaru Impreza 555 107 Pentti Airikkala Nigel Gardner Pentti Airikkala Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI 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 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 Mikko Markkula Suzuki Sport Suzuki Ignis S1600 65 Abdo Feghali Joseph Matar Astra Racing Ford Puma S1600 67 Alessandro Broccoli Giovanni Agnese 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 Source:
Itinerary All dates and times are GMT (UTC±0). Date Time No. Stage name Distance Leg 1 — 164.24 km 6 November 19:30 SS1 Cardiff Super Special 1 2.45 km 7 November 07:51 SS2 Brechfa 23.12 km 08:30 SS3 Trawscoed 27.97 km 11:20 SS4 Rheola 1 32.58 km 12:38 SS5 Resolfen 1 43.09 km 15:48 SS6 Rheola 2 32.58 km 19:32 SS7 Cardiff Super Special 2 2.45 km Leg 2 — 138.71 km 8 November 07:47 SS8 Crychan 1 13.05 km 08:14 SS9 Halfway 1 18.53 km 10:27 SS10 Crychan 2 13.05 km 10:54 SS11 Halfway 2 18.53 km 13:13 SS12 Margam Forest 17.37 km 13:46 SS13 Margam Park 1 12.64 km 15:32 SS14 Resolfen 2 43.09 km 19:38 SS15 Cardiff Super Special 3 2.45 km Leg 3 — 73.86 km 9 November 07:48 SS16 Rhondda 1 30.61 km 11:02 SS17 Rhondda 2 30.61 km 13:04 SS18 Margam Park 2 12.64 km
Results Overall Driver Co-driver Team Car Time Points 1 7 Petter Solberg Phil Mills 555 Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 3:28:58.1 10 2 18 Sébastien Loeb Daniel Elena Citroën Total WRT Citroën Xsara WRC 3:29:41.7 +43.68 3 8 Tommi Mäkinen Kaj Lindström 555 Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 3:31:56.9 +2:58.86 4 17 Colin McRae Derek Ringer Citroën Total WRT Citroën Xsara WRC 3:34:26.2 +5:28.15 5 5 François Duval Stéphane Prévot Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Focus RS WRC '03 3:36:14.2 +7:16.14 6 2 Freddy Loix Sven Smeets Marlboro Peugeot Total Peugeot 206 WRC 3:37:04.6 +8:06.53 7 34 Manfred Stohl Ilka Minor Stohl Racing Peugeot 206 WRC 3:37:46.5 +8:48.42 8 22 Roman Kresta Jan Tománek Bozian Racing Peugeot 206 WRC 3:38:00.7 +9:02.61
World Rally Cars Classification Position Driver Co-driver Entrant Car Time Points Event Class 1 1 7 Petter Solberg Phil Mills 555 Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 3:28:58.1 10 2 2 18 Sébastien Loeb Daniel Elena Citroën Total WRT Citroën Xsara WRC 3:29:41.7 +43.68 3 3 8 Tommi Mäkinen Kaj Lindström 555 Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 3:31:56.9 +2:58.86 4 4 17 Colin McRae Derek Ringer Citroën Total WRT Citroën Xsara WRC 3:34:26.2 +5:28.15 5 5 5 François Duval Stéphane Prévot Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Focus RS WRC '03 3:36:14.2 +7:16.14 6 6 2 Freddy Loix Sven Smeets Marlboro Peugeot Total Peugeot 206 WRC 3:37:04.6 +8:06.53 11 7 14 Didier Auriol Denis Giraudet Škoda Motorsport Škoda Fabia WRC 3:44:44.0 +15:45.90 Retired SS16 3 Harri Rovanperä Risto Pietiläinen Marlboro Peugeot Total Peugeot 206 WRC Transmission 0 Retired SS16 15 Toni Gardemeister Paavo Lukander Škoda Motorsport Škoda Fabia WRC Accident 0 Retired SS4 1 Marcus Grönholm Timo Rautiainen Marlboro Peugeot Total Peugeot 206 WRC Lost wheel 0 Retired SS4 4 Markko Märtin Michael Park Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Focus RS WRC '03 Engine 0 Retired SS3 6 Mikko Hirvonen Jarmo Lehtinen Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Focus RS WRC '02 Accident 0 Retired SS3 19 Carlos Sainz Marc Martí Citroën Total WRT Citroën Xsara WRC Accident 0
Special stages Day Stage Stage name Length Winner Car Time Leg 1 (6 Nov) SS1 Cardiff Super Special 1 2.45 km Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 2:08.7 Petter Solberg Leg 1 (7 Nov) SS2 Brechfa 23.12 km Sébastien Loeb Citroën Xsara WRC 13:19.6 Sébastien Loeb SS3 Trawscoed 27.97 km Sébastien Loeb Citroën Xsara WRC 16:23.4 SS4 Rheola 1 32.58 km Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 17:58.6 Petter Solberg SS5 Resolfen 1 43.09 km Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 22:40.9 SS6 Rheola 2 32.58 km Sébastien Loeb Citroën Xsara WRC 17:50.9 SS7 Cardiff Super Special 2 2.45 km Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 2:06.4 Leg 2 (8 Nov) SS8 Crychan 1 13.05 km Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 7:10.6 SS9 Halfway 1 18.53 km Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 10:15.7 SS10 Crychan 2 13.05 km Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 7:08.0 SS11 Halfway 2 18.53 km Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 10:11.0 SS12 Margam Forest 17.37 km Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 9:57.7 SS13 Margam Park 1 12.64 km Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 7:08.8 SS14 Resolfen 2 43.09 km Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 22:21.3 SS15 Cardiff Super Special 3 2.45 km Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 2:05.1 Leg 3 (9 Nov) SS16 Rhondda 1 30.61 km Sébastien Loeb Citroën Xsara WRC 16:25.5 SS17 Rhondda 2 30.61 km Sébastien Loeb Citroën Xsara WRC 16:21.1 SS18 Margam Park 2 12.64 km Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 7:07.4
Championship standings Bold text indicates 2003 World Champions. Drivers' championships Co-drivers' championships Manufacturers' championshipsMoveDriverPointsMoveCo-driverPointsMoveManufacturerPoints 1 2 Petter Solberg 72 2 Phil Mills 72 Citroën Total WRT 160 2 1 Sébastien Loeb 71 1 Daniel Elena 71 Marlboro Peugeot Total 145 3 1 Carlos Sainz 63 1 Marc Martí 63 555 Subaru World Rally Team 109 4 Richard Burns 58 Robert Reid 58 Ford Motor Co. Ltd. 93 5 Markko Märtin 49 Michael Park 49 Škoda Motorsport 23
Junior World Rally Championship Classification Position Driver Co-driver Entrant Car Time Points Event Class 14 1 52 Daniel Carlsson Matthias Andersson Suzuki Sport Suzuki Ignis S1600 3:57:29.8 10 15 2 51 Mirco Baldacci Giovanni Bernacchini Purity Auto Fiat Punto S1600 3:59:04.2 +1:34.48 23 3 64 Ville-Pertti Teuronen Mikko Markkula Suzuki Sport Suzuki Ignis S1600 4:04:51.6 +7:21.86 28 4 69 Salvador Cañellas Jr. Xavier Amigó Suzuki Sport Suzuki Ignis S1600 4:14:50.3 +17:20.55 29 5 67 Alessandro Broccoli Giovanni Agnese Sab Motorsport Opel Corsa S1600 4:20:58.2 +23:28.44 30 6 63 Massimo Ceccato Mitia Dotta Top Run SRL Fiat Punto S1600 4:24:25.8 +26:56.03 Retired SS17 71 Urmo Aava Kuldar Sikk Suzuki Sport Suzuki Ignis S1600 Driveshaft 0 Retired SS17 74 Kris Meeke Chris Patterson Opel Motorsport Opel Corsa S1600 Accident 0 Retired SS16 62 Oscar Svedlund Björn Nilsson Volkswagen Racing Volkswagen Polo S1600 Mechanical 0 Retired SS15 76 Luca Cecchettini Marco Muzzarelli Top Run SRL Fiat Punto S1600 Engine 0 Retired SS13 54 Kosti Katajamäki Jani Laaksonen Volkswagen Racing Volkswagen Polo S1600 Steering 0 Retired SS11 61 Brice Tirabassi Jacques-Julien Renucci Renault Sport Renault Clio S1600 Engine 0 Retired SS5 65 Abdo Feghali Joseph Matar Astra Racing Ford Puma S1600 Gearbox 0 Retired SS5 70 Guy Wilks Phil Pugh Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Puma S1600 Water pump 0
Special stages Day Stage Stage name Length Winner Car Time Leg 1 (6 Nov) SS1 Cardiff Super Special 1 2.45 km Mirco Baldacci Kris Meeke Fiat Punto S1600Opel Corsa S1600 2:25.0 Mirco Baldacci Kris Meeke Leg 1 (7 Nov) SS2 Brechfa 23.12 km Kris Meeke Opel Corsa S1600 15:45.5 Kris Meeke SS3 Trawscoed 27.97 km Daniel Carlsson Suzuki Ignis S1600 19:11.2 SS4 Rheola 1 32.58 km Daniel Carlsson Suzuki Ignis S1600 20:28.2 SS5 Resolfen 1 43.09 km Daniel Carlsson Suzuki Ignis S1600 25:48.7 Daniel Carlsson SS6 Rheola 2 32.58 km Brice Tirabassi Renault Clio S1600 20:09.7 SS7 Cardiff Super Special 2 2.45 km Mirco Baldacci Fiat Punto S1600 2:21.4 Leg 2 (8 Nov) SS8 Crychan 1 13.05 km Daniel Carlsson Suzuki Ignis S1600 8:06.1 SS9 Halfway 1 18.53 km Daniel Carlsson Suzuki Ignis S1600 11:26.0 SS10 Crychan 2 13.05 km Daniel Carlsson Suzuki Ignis S1600 8:02.6 SS11 Halfway 2 18.53 km Kris Meeke Opel Corsa S1600 11:18.6 SS12 Margam Forest 17.37 km Daniel Carlsson Suzuki Ignis S1600 11:13.7 SS13 Margam Park 1 12.64 km Kris Meeke Opel Corsa S1600 8:05.0 SS14 Resolfen 2 43.09 km Daniel Carlsson Suzuki Ignis S1600 25:18.6 SS15 Cardiff Super Special 3 2.45 km Kris Meeke Opel Corsa S1600 2:18.5 Leg 3 (9 Nov) SS16 Rhondda 1 30.61 km Kris Meeke Opel Corsa S1600 18:27.2 SS17 Rhondda 2 30.61 km Daniel Carlsson Suzuki Ignis S1600 18:24.9 SS18 Margam Park 2 12.64 km Daniel Carlsson Suzuki Ignis S1600 8:09.4
Championship standings Bold text indicates 2003 World Champions. Drivers' championships MoveDriverPoints 1 Brice Tirabassi 38 2 Salvador Cañellas Jr. 36 3 Daniel Carlsson 33 4 3 Mirco Baldacci 20 5 1 Urmo Aava 20
References
External links Official website of the World Rally Championship