2002 Race of Champions


The 2002 Race of Champions took place on November 29 to December 1 at Gran Canaria. It was the 15th running of the event, and the 11th at Gran Canaria.
The vehicles used were the Peugeot 206 WRC, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI Group N, the SEAT Córdoba WRC and the ROC Buggy.
The individual competition was won by Marcus Grönholm, whilst the Nations' Cup was won by USA with Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Colin Edwards.

Participants

Junior Rally Masters

Group Stage

Driver 1Time 1Driver 2Time 2
François Duval2:15.37 Dani Solà2:19.26
Francisco Suárez2:19.89 Niall McShea2:22.01
Niall McShea2:19.76 François Duval2:14.01
Dani Solà2:19.58 Francisco Suárez2:17.47
Francisco Suárez2:15.41 François Duval2:12.00
Dani Solà2:17.54 Niall McShea2:18.09

Final

Driver 1Time 1Driver 2Time 2
François Duval2:10.92 Francisco Suárez2:13.52
François Duval2:00.99 Francisco Suárez2:05.28

Nations' Cup

Group stage

Group A

Group B

Best Times

Knockout stage

Semifinals

Final

Race of Champions

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 - Harri Rovanperä, as the defending champion, was guaranteed a spot, whilst Colin Edwards, despite having the best time among motorcyclists in the Nations' Cup, did not participate. François Duval secured his place by winning the Junior event, Luis Monzón won the Spanish Masters event, and Stig Blomqvist was an invited 'seeded' driver. Jimmie Johnson received a 'wild-card' entry, replacing Nations' Cup teammate Jeff Gordon who was sidelined by food poisoning.

Group stage

Group A

DriverRacesWinsLossesBest Time
François Duval3211:54.15
Luis Monzón3211:55.80
Stig Blomqvist3121:55.23
Jesús Puras3121:57.27

Driver 1Time 1Driver 2Time 2
Jesús Puras1:57.27 Stig Blomqvist1:58.06
Jesús Puras1:57.62 François Duval1:55.20
Jesús Puras1:56.74 Luis Monzón1:55.80
François Duval1:54.60 Stig Blomqvist1:55.44
Stig Blomqvist1:55.23 Luis MonzónDNF
François Duval2:04.15 Luis Monzón1:56.95

Group B

DriverRacesWinsLossesBest Time
Kenny Brack3301:54.92
Marco Melandri3211:53.74
Renato Travaglia3121:58.96
Fabrizio Giovanardi3031:54.50

Driver 1Time 1Driver 2Time 2
Fabrizio Giovanardi1:58.98 Renato Travaglia1:58.96
Kenny Brack1:55.44 Renato Travaglia1:56.61
Renato Travaglia1:56.62 Marco Melandri1:55.17
Fabrizio Giovanardi1:55.55 Kenny Brack1:54.92
Fabrizio Giovanardi1:54.50 Marco Melandri1:53.74
Marco MelandriWithdrew Kenny BrackBye

Knockout stage

Quarterfinals

Driver 1Time 1Driver 2Time 2
Marcus Grönholm1:57.71 Jimmie Johnson1:57.94
Marcus Grönholm1:53.29 Jimmie JohnsonDNF
Marco MelandriDNF François Duval2:02.30
Marco Melandri3:18.78 François Duval2:26.20
Sébastien Loeb1:57.85 Luis Monzón2:00.49
Sébastien Loeb1:57.87 Luis Monzón1:58.87
Harri Rovanperä1:58.28 Kenny Brack1:58.88
Harri Rovanperä1:54.46 Kenny Brack1:53.98
Harri Rovanperä1:54.32 Kenny Brack2:40.90

Semifinals

Driver 1Time 1Driver 2Time 2
Marcus Grönholm1:59.32 François Duval2:25.41
Marcus Grönholm1:52.65 François DuvalDNF
Sébastien Loeb1:57.19 Harri Rovanperä1:57.88
Sébastien Loeb1:53.81 Harri Rovanperä1:54.81

Final

Driver 1Time 1Driver 2Time 2
Marcus Grönholm1:53.07 Sébastien Loeb1:53.15
Marcus Grönholm1:52.05 Sébastien Loeb1:51.54
Marcus Grönholm1:51.87 Sébastien Loeb1:52.74