2003 Race of Champions
Encyclopedia
The 2003 Race of Champions
took place on November 30 at Gran Canaria
for the final time. It was also the last year for 3-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 Saint-Denis
and Wembley
venues using all tarmac tracks in a confined stadium setting.
The vehicles used were the Peugeot 206 WRC
, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII WRC, the Subaru Impreza WRC 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
.
Heat B
Group B
Group C
Race of Champions
The Race of Champions is an international motorsport event held at the end of each year, featuring some of the world's best racing and rally drivers...
took place on November 30 at Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria is the second most populous island of the Canary Islands, with a population of 838,397 which constitutes approximately 40% of the population of the archipelago...
for the final time. It was also the last year for 3-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 Saint-Denis
Saint-Denis
Saint-Denis is a commune in the northern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. Saint-Denis is a sous-préfecture of the Seine-Saint-Denis département, being the seat of the Arrondissement of Saint-Denis....
and Wembley
Wembley
Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena...
venues using all tarmac tracks in a confined stadium setting.
The vehicles used were the Peugeot 206 WRC
Peugeot 206 WRC
Peugeot 206 WRC is a World Rally Car based on the Peugeot 206. It was used by Peugeot Sport, Peugeot's factory team, in the World Rally Championship from 1999 to 2003. The car brought Peugeot the manufacturers' world title three years in a row from 2000 to 2002...
, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII WRC, the Subaru Impreza WRC and the ROC Buggy.
The individual competition was won by Sébastien Loeb
Sébastien Loeb
Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship...
, whilst the Nations' Cup was won by the All-Star line-up of Fonsi Nieto
Fonsi Nieto
Alfonso Gonzalez Nieto is a Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. As the nephew of successful Grand Prix motorcycle road racer Ángel Nieto, it was no surprise when he started competing in the sport himself. After success in the 250cc class he moved to World Superbikes, while he also has made one...
, Gilles Panizzi
Gilles Panizzi
Gilles Panizzi is a French rally driver on the World Rally Championship circuit.Gilles was born in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Alpes-Maritimes...
and Cristiano da Matta
Cristiano da Matta
Cristiano Monteiro da Matta is an auto racing driver, winner of the American CART Championship in 2002, and former Formula One driver with the Toyota team.-Origins and early career:...
.
Participants
| Country | Racing Driver | Rally Driver | Motorcycle Racer |
|---|---|---|---|
| France |  Olivier PanisOlivier Panis Olivier Panis is a French racing driver. Panis is best known in F1 not only as a test driver for the McLaren team but for his win at the eventful Monaco Grand Prix in 1996 for the Ligier team after starting 14th... |
Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
Randy de Puniet Randy de Puniet Randy de Puniet is a French Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He is currently racing for the Pramac Ducati team in MotoGP, having raced in this class regularly since 2006... |
| United States |  Boris SaidBoris Said Boris Said is an American race car driver from Carlsbad, California but considers his hometown to be Stamford, Connecticut. His father, Bob Said, was a Formula One race driver and US Olympic bobsled driver in 1968 and 1972. He drove the #26 Ford Fusion for Latitude 43 Motorsports in the NASCAR... |
Casey Mears Casey Mears Casey James Mears is the driver of the #13 GEICO Toyota for Germain Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. He is a former winner of the Coca-Cola 600.... |
Travis Pastrana Travis Pastrana Travis Alan Pastrana is an American motorsports competitor and stunt performer who has won championships and X Games gold medals in several events, including supercross, motocross, freestyle motocross, and rally racing. He runs a show called Nitro Circus with some of his friends... |
| Great Britain |  Guy SmithGuy Smith Guy Smith is a motor racing driver who has competed in various levels of motorsport.Smith started racing karts in 1987, winning the British Championship, and in 1991 finished second in the Senior World Championship... |
David Higgins David Higgins (rally driver) David Higgins is a British rally driver.Higgins won the 1997, 1999 and 2002 British Rally Championships in the Group N category. He won the SCCA ProRally Championship in America in 2002 and 2003. In 2004 he returned to the British championship for what was supposed to be a one-off entry at the... |
James Toseland James Toseland James Michael Toseland is a former English motorcycle racer. Toseland was the World Superbike Champion on a Ten Kate Honda, who also won the Superbike World Championship on a Ducati. He is one of only two men, the other being Troy Corser, to have won the Superbike World Championship for two... |
| Finland |  JJ Lehto |
Timo Salonen Timo Salonen Timo Salonen is a Finnish former rally driver and the 1985 world champion for Peugeot. It was commented of him that he stood out from other drivers, because he was overweight, wore thick glasses and smoked heavily, but still remained one of the fastest and most competitive drivers in the sport... |
Samuli Aro Samuli Aro Samuli Aro is a Finnish enduro rider. He is a five-time World Enduro Champion and has also won the International Six Days Enduro World Trophy with Team Finland five times.... |
| Spain |  Oriol ServiaOriol Servia Oriol Servià i Imbers is a race car driver in the IndyCar Series, originally from Catalonia, Spain. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia.-Early career:... |
Flavio Alonso |
Emilio Alzamora Emilio Alzamora Emilio Alzamora i Escardibul is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was the 1999 F.I.M. 125cc world champion... |
| Sweden |  Bjorn WirdheimBjörn Wirdheim Björn Karl Michael Wirdheim is an auto racing driver. Wirdheim is the son of Örnulf Wirdheim, a Swedish racing driver. He began racing karts, competing in his first race, at the age of 10... |
Daniel Carlsson |
Tony Rickardsson Tony Rickardsson Tony Rickardsson is a retired Swedish motorcycle speedway rider. He is widely acknowledged as being the most successful speedway rider of the current era, having won six Speedway World Championship titles in 15 attempts. He has two daughters, Michelle and Natalie with his wife Anna... |
| Italy |  Rinaldo CapelloRinaldo Capello Rinaldo Capello , also known as Dindo Capello, is an Italian endurance racing driver.Dindo started his racing career in 1976, driving go-karts, but didn't move into single-seaters until 1983, starting in Formula Fiat Abarth. 1990 saw Dindo's first major championship victory, winning the Italian... |
Renato Travaglia |
Alessandro Gramigni Alessandro Gramigni Alessandro Gramigni is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was the 1992 F.I.M. 125cc world champion.... |
| Germany |  Sven HeidfeldSven Heidfeld Sven Heidfeld, , is a former auto racing driver. He currently works as a motorsport commentator for television broadcaster Sky Deutschland... |
Armin Kremer |
Alex Hofmann Alex Hofmann Alexander Hofmann is a retired Grand Prix motorcycle road racer, who now works on German television coverage of the sport... |
| All-Stars |  Cristiano da MattaCristiano da Matta Cristiano Monteiro da Matta is an auto racing driver, winner of the American CART Championship in 2002, and former Formula One driver with the Toyota team.-Origins and early career:... |
Gilles Panizzi Gilles Panizzi Gilles Panizzi is a French rally driver on the World Rally Championship circuit.Gilles was born in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Alpes-Maritimes... |
Fonsi Nieto Fonsi Nieto Alfonso Gonzalez Nieto is a Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. As the nephew of successful Grand Prix motorcycle road racer Ángel Nieto, it was no surprise when he started competing in the sport himself. After success in the 250cc class he moved to World Superbikes, while he also has made one... |
- Nick HeidfeldNick HeidfeldNick Lars Heidfeld is a German racing driver.Despite scoring regular podium finishes in and , Heidfeld has yet to win a race since entering Formula One in . This means that amongst the current drivers, he has had the most GP starts without standing at the top spot on the podium...
was originally confirmed for Germany but had prior commitments, his brother Sven taking his place. - Johnny HerbertJohnny HerbertJohn Paul Herbert is a British racing driver from England. He competed in Formula One, winning three races, and also in sports cars winning the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1991 driving a Mazda 787B...
was originally confirmed for Great Britain but had prior commitments, Smith taking his place. - Marcus GrönholmMarcus GrönholmMarcus "Bosse" Grönholm is a Finnish former rally driver. Driving for Peugeot, he won the World Rally Championship in 2000 and 2002. After Peugeot withdrew from the World Rally Championship, Grönholm moved to Ford for the 2006 season and placed second in the drivers' world championship, losing the...
was to represent Finland, but due to testing commitments could not arrive in time for the Nations Cup. Salonen took his place.
Junior Rally Masters
| Driver | Wins | Best Time |
|---|---|---|
 DuvalFrançois Duval François Duval is a Belgian rally driver.-1999–2004:With victories in four events Duval won the Belgian Citroën Saxo Challenge title in 1999... |
3 | 2'10.04 |
| Carlsson |
2 | 2'09.28 |
| Jaio |
1 | 2'19.27 |
| Suarez |
0 | 2'10.66 |
- Both Duval & Carlsson qualified for the Race of Champions with their success
Race of Champions
Heat A| Driver | Wins | Best Time |
|---|---|---|
| Travaglia |
3 | 1'58.07 |
| Sordo |
1 | 2'03.68 |
| Salonen Timo Salonen Timo Salonen is a Finnish former rally driver and the 1985 world champion for Peugeot. It was commented of him that he stood out from other drivers, because he was overweight, wore thick glasses and smoked heavily, but still remained one of the fastest and most competitive drivers in the sport... |
1 | 2'06.47 |
| Rowe |
1 | 2'07.45 |
Heat B
| Driver | Wins | Best Time |
|---|---|---|
| Alonso |
3 | 1'54.50 |
| Servia |
2 | 1'54.03 |
| Alzamora |
1 | 1'56.67 |
| Biagi Thomas Biagi Thomas Biagi is a professional racecar driver from Italy. Biagi was born in Bologna, in 7 May 1976.Biagi started his career in single seaters, driving in Formula Alfa Boxer and Italian Formula Three Championship, where he was 5th best in 1995, with two wins. From there, he moved up to the FIA... |
0 | 1'56.77 |
Nations' Cup
Group A| Team | Wins | Total Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sweden |
4 | 6'00.60 |
| Finland |
3 | 5'56.92 |
| France |
2 | 5'56.15 |
Group B
| Team | Wins | Total Time |
|---|---|---|
| Spain |
6 | 5'51.52 |
| Italy |
2 | 6'00.73 |
| UK |
1 | 6'03.51 |
Group C
| Team | Wins | Total Time |
|---|---|---|
 All-Stars |
4 | 5'55.38 |
| USA |
3 | 5'55.06 |
| Germany |
2 | 5'57.55 |
- The US team made the semi-finals by having the fastest times of the losing teams.
External links
- http://www.atodomotor.com/pagina/ROC.html