3 August 2002: The 2002 World Rally Championship will see a change of backdrop and pace over the coming months in comparison to the recent series of four rough gravel rounds, a run that included the punishing Safari Rally. In contrast to the African marathon, which Peugeot finished in second place, the final encounters of the season will all be out and out sprints.

The French squad, which enjoys a 14-point advantage in the Manufacturers' championship and which also tops the Drivers' table with Marcus Grönholm, has some convincing arguments in its favour for the forthcoming events, including the fact that the 206 WRC has already won five of the next six rallies at least once. The only exception is the Deutschland Rally which appears on the WRC calendar for the very first time this year. And the team's driver line-up looks equally strong: Marcus Grönholm, winner of the last two Rally Finlands, and Harri Rovanperä will both be on home ground in Finland, while Richard Burns, with two second places to his name on the Scandinavian round (in 1999 and 2001), is one of the few non-Finns capable of giving the locals more than just a run for their money on this highly specific event…


The recent run of four gravel rounds proved extremely important for Peugeot Sport. To begin with, they saw the debut of the 2002 specification 206 WRC which, following an encouraging test programme, lived every bit up to expectations in terms of strength to enable the French team to maintain its lead in the championship as the series returns to less fickle terrains. The objective was globally met with the latest evolution 206 WRC scoring a 1-2 finish over the twisty gravel of Cyprus before concluding the rough gravel campaign with a second place in Kenya.


Peugeot's 14-point lead in the Manufacturers' series and Marcus Grönholm's 7-point cushion at the top of the Drivers' classification are welcome assets as the final phase of the championship switches to much faster terrain. The next round, Finland, is one of the few gravel rallies covered at Grand Prix speeds and its smooth stages and countless jumps, often taken 'blind', demand total precision, control and commitment from the drivers.