Lloret De Mar, Oct 27: The world rally championship goes to the wire with four drivers in contention at the last race in Britain after Gilles Panizzi's triumph in Catalunya.
Frenchman Gilles Panizzi snatched a last-gasp Rally of Catalunya victory on Sunday (October 26) while compatriot Sebastien Loeb's second place made him the new world championship leader with only one race remaining. Citroen driver Loeb, who had led for virtually the entire race in Catalunya, let a 31-second advantage slip on a rain-lashed final stage, with fellow Frenchman Panizzi producing a dazzling performance in his Peugeot to claim the win.
Loeb had enjoyed a comfortable lead going into the final day but the intense rain changed the race. Loeb and Sainz looked to be holding on to first and fourth places with few difficulties before the final stage produced a major shake-up.


Panizzi's fearless drive took him home less than a second ahead of Marcus Gronholm, with Markko Martin of Estonia coming in third.


Loeb finished 44 seconds behind Panizzi in the end and only just managed to hold on to second place overall, with Martin 0.6 seconds behind him in third place in the final standings.

Bureau Report