Final Results for Rally Sweden

[Mark F1]

Full Results after SS16:

1: Marcus Gronholm, Peugeot 206 WRC 3H:07.28.6
2: Harri Rovanpera, Peugeot 206 WRC +1.24.5
3: Carlos Sainz, Ford Focus WRC +2.25.8
4: Richard Burns, Peugeot 206 WRC +2.33.9
5: Janne Tuohino, Ford Focus WRC +4.13.4
6: Alister McRae, Mitsubishi Lancer WRC +4.14.7
7: Colin McRae, Ford Focus WRC +4.15.0
8: Juha Kankkunen, Hyundai Accent WRC +4.36.9
9: Sebastian Lindholm, Peugeot 206 WRC +4.56.6
10: Francois Duval, Ford Focus WRC +6.33.3
11: Juuso Pykalisto, Toyota Corolla WRC +6.54.0
12: Tomasz Kuchar, Toyota Corolla WRC +6.54.8
13: Henning Solberg, Toyota Corolla WRC +7.05.4
14: Jani Paasonen, Mitsubishi Lancer WRC +8.10.3
15: Stig Blomqvist, Skoda Octavia WRC +8.14.5
16: Gilles Panizzi, Peugeot 206 WRC +8.39.0
17: Sebastien Loeb, Citroen Xsara WRC +9.38.6
18: Jussi Valimaki, Toyota Corolla WRC +13.46.1
19: Johan Kressner, Subaru Impreza 555 +14.48.0
20: Daniel Carlsson, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo +14.55.0
21: Juha Kangas, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo +15.04.2
22: Kristian Kolberg, Hyundai Accent WRC +15.21.3
23: Kenneth Backlund, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo +16.42.9
24: Kristian Sohlberg, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo +17.57.3
25: Toshihiro Arai, Subaru Impreza 555 +18.23.4
26: Marko Ipatti, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo +18.56.1
27: Alex Fiorio, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo +19.36.1
28: Tord Linnerud, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo +21.53.4
29: Janusz Kulig, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo +22.24.5
30: Jari Ketomma, Subaru Impreza 555 +23.05.5
31: Saulius Girdauskas, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo +23.39.7
32: Knut Hoistad, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo +24.14.6
33: Thomas Kolberg, Hyundai Accent WRC +24.58.4
34: Francois Delecour, Mitsubishi Lancer WRC +25.13.4
35: Rune Dalsjo, Subaru Impreza WRX +25.26.3
36: Tobias Johansson, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo +25.37.0
37: Thomas Radstrom, Citroen Xsara WRC +28.12.8
38: Martin Rowe, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo +28.29.8
39: Dimitar Iliev, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo +29.32.1
40: Bernt Kollevold, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo +29.47.0
41: Ioannis Papadimitriou, Subaru Impreza 555 +30.07.2
42: Per-Arne Saav, Volkswagon Golf Kit Car +30.15.7
43: Per-Gunner Andersson, Renault Clio +30.59.1
44: Joakim Roman, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo +32.23.1
45: Pavel Dytko, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo +36.34.0
46: Tobias Olsson, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo +37.00.1
47: Ben Briant, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo +38.10.4
48: Magnus Jansson, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo +41.39.0
49: Alfredo De Dominicis, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo +41.48.1
50: Pelle Palmqvist, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo +43.48.1
51: Natalie Barratt, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo +45.58.7

[Kalevi]

As the saying amongst team managers goes: "If you wanna win, hire a Finn".

Congratulations Marcus and Harri!

[Raven]

I was pretty sure Gronholm would win so long as he didn't have any problems! Peugeot look a lot more solid this year than they did at the beginning of last. Marcus is going to be tough to beat this year.

[Mark F1]

Also,

Drivers Championship:

1: Marcus Gronholm, 12 Pts
2: Tommi Makinen, 10
3: Carlos Sainz, 8
4: Sebastien Loeb, 6
5: Harri Rovanpera, 6
6: Colin McRae, 4
7: Richard Burns, 3
8: Alister McRae, 2
9: Petter Solberg, 1

Manufactures Championship:

1: Peugeot, 20 Pts
2: Ford, 16
3: Subaru, 12
4: Mitsubishi, 3
5: Hyundai, 1

[Speedworx]

WRONG!!!!!!!

1: Marcus Gronholm, Peugeot 206 WRC 3H:07.28.6
2: Harri Rovanpera, Peugeot 206 WRC +1.24.5
3: Carlos Sainz, Ford Focus WRC +2.25.8
4: Richard Burns, Peugeot 206 WRC +2.33.9
5: Alister McRae, Mitsubishi Lancer WRC +4.14.7
6: Colin McRae, Ford Focus WRC +4.15.0
7: Janne Tuohino, Ford Focus WRC +4.23.4 (took 10 secs penalty to aid Colin)

[Liz]

Hurrah for Harri! Second place is good for a starter and I hope he and Marcus keep the ball rolling all season long.

Perhaps then we won't have to hear Colin McRae's deathless but incoherent pronouncements after every stage. Harri may be incoherent, but his voice is much nicer!

[Speedworx]

I hope Harri wins the world title one day. He would make a good champion.

[Liz]

Amen to that!

[touringlegend]

Despite it looking like Makinen's and Gronholm's year, McRae will be world champion for 2002! At least he has scored 4 points over two rallies which he failed to finish last year.

[SJ Spode]

Well done to Marcus & Harri for a snow/ice driving masterclass, although without the 3min lost by McRae C. with his wheelchange on Leg 2 he would have been 2nd.

And I imagine there will be a big Xmas present for Janne Tuohino from the McRae family this year. Not only did his sacrifice give Colin a point for Ford, but doubled Alister's points score. I hope that Malcolm Wilson sees Tuohino right (I fully understand these sort of tactics but I'm not sure I like them)

Can't believe Freddy's luck, but all praise to him & it's good to see Juha Kankkunen finish in the Top 10.

So back to the tarmac in Corsica next.

[Mark F1]

What a brilliant rally, if only McRae hadn't had his wheel problem on Leg 2, he would have been on the podium, all be it 3rd behind the Peugeot's and the two flying Finns. Apart from Tuohino, Five others who performed well in my opinion:

Juha Kankkunen - 8th on his first WRC rally for over a year was an excellent achievement, unlucky not to get a point

Sebastian Lindholm - Normally only does Sweden & Finland, but is one of the best Scandanavian privateers in one of the best cars (Peugeot 206 WRC)

Francois Duval - 10th in his first rally in a WRC is an excellent result and he is a sure favourite for the JWRC

Tomasz Kuchar - New Hyundai signing showed everyone why they have recruited him, and nice to see that the Toyota Corolla WRC is still a decent car

Sebastien Loeb - Snow is not his surface, but he bounced back from a couple of off's to finish the rally and get more much needed experience in a WRC