2003 Race of Champions


The 2003 Race of Champions took place on November 28–30 at Gran Canaria for the final time. It was also the last year for three-car teams in the Nations' Cup, with the focus on rally drivers fading after this year's event due to the later stadium-based venues using all-tarmac tracks.
The vehicles used were the Peugeot 206 WRC, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII Group N, the Subaru Impreza WRX 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.

Participants

Group Stage

Driver 1Time 1Driver 2Time 2
Daniel Carlsson2:15.11 François Duval2:13.13
Txus Jaio2:19.27 Francisco SuárezDNF
François Duval2:11.68 Txus Jaio02:15.78
Francisco Suárez2:23.69 Daniel Carlsson2:11.51
François Duval2:10.04 Francisco Suárez2:10.66
Txus Jaio2:12.10 Daniel Carlsson2:09.28

Final

Driver 1Time 1Driver 2Time 2
François Duval1:59.04 Daniel Carlsson1:59.76

Nations' Cup

Group stage

Group A

Group B

Group C

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 - Marcus Grönholm, as the defending champion, was guaranteed a spot, whilst Cristiano da Matta, despite having the best time among racing drivers in the Nations' Cup, did not participate. François Duval secured his place by winning the Junior event, Dani Sordo won the Spanish Masters event, Timo Salonen was an invited 'seeded' driver and Martin Rowe was invited for having won the 2003 PWRC title. Thomas Biagi meanwhile earned his place by beating FIA GT teammate Matteo Bobbi and Volkswagen Cup UK winner Rob Carvell.

Group stage

Group A

DriverRacesWinsLossesBest Time
Renato Travaglia3301:58.07
Dani Sordo3122:03.68
Timo Salonen3122:06.47
Martin Rowe3122:07.45

Driver 1Time 1Driver 2Time 2
Dani SordoDNF Renato Travaglia1:58.07
Martin Rowe2:07.45 Timo Salonen2:07.71
Timo Salonen2:06.47 Dani Sordo2:15 47
Renato Travaglia2:04.27 Martin Rowe2:05.80
Dani Sordo2:03.68 Martin Rowe2:14.38
Timo Salonen2:08.11 Renato Travaglia2:04.33

Group B

DriverRacesWinsLossesBest Time
Flavio Alonso3301:54.50
Oriol Servià3211:54.03
Emilio Alzamora3121:56.67
Thomas Biagi3031:56.77

Driver 1Time 1Driver 2Time 2
Oriol Servià1:55.71 Emilio Alzamora1:59.99
Thomas Biagi2:02.72 Flavio Alonso1:57.05
Flavio Alonso1:54.84 Oriol Servià1:55.64
Emilio Alzamora1:56.67 Thomas Biagi2:07.61
Emilio Alzamora1:54.53 Flavio Alonso1:54.50
Oriol Servià1:54.03 Thomas Biagi1:56.77

Knockout stage

Quarterfinals

Driver 1Time 1Driver 2Time 2
Sébastien Loeb1:56.96 Daniel Carlsson1:57.90
Sébastien Loeb1:51.67 Daniel Carlsson1:52.38
Flavio Alonso1:57.13 François Duval1:57.03
Flavio Alonso1:52.30 François Duval1:52.05
Marcus Grönholm1:56.51 Travis Pastrana2:37.21
Gilles Panizzi1:58.21 Renato Travaglia1:58.57
Gilles Panizzi1:53.60 Renato Travaglia1:53.67

Semifinals

Driver 1Time 1Driver 2Time 2
Sébastien Loeb1:56.55 François Duval1:56.60
Sébastien Loeb1:51.85 François Duval1:52.30
Marcus Grönholm1:57.07 Gilles Panizzi1:57.64
Marcus Grönholm1:53.53 Gilles Panizzi1:53.46
Marcus Grönholm1:52.18 Gilles Panizzi1:53.05

Final

Driver 1Time 1Driver 2Time 2
Sébastien Loeb1:56.15 Marcus Grönholm1:56.45
Sébastien Loeb1:52.30 Marcus Grönholm1:53.09