LIMASSOL, Cyprus, 21 June 2003 — World champion Marcus Gronholm seized the lead in the Cyprus Rally yesterday after overhauling Peugeot team mate Harri Rovanpera at the end of the first leg.
Rovanpera was fastest through the first three stages but his lead evaporated in the fourth as his fellow-Finn stormed through on a rainy afternoon to take a slender 6.8-second advantage.
“We had a small problem with the rear suspension but it was quite good,” said Gronholm. “Now we have to look forward to tomorrow and to try to do the same job.”
Peugeot’s championship leader Richard Burns was in eighth place after struggling with a puncture in the morning and losing hydraulic pressure on the 38 km Lagoudera stage.
“I had to fiddle about under the dashboard to get the manual throttle working. It was a pretty tough stage, but I’m happy to be here and ready to start the fightback tomorrow,” he told the WRC website.
“It will be very tough. We’ll have to wait and see. A lot of things can happen to others and to us.”
Rovanpera was slowed by gearbox problems and half a minute slower than Gronholm in the fourth stage.
Subaru provided the main threat to the Peugeots with Norwegian Petter Solberg in third place, 10.3 seconds off the pace.
But teammate Tommi Makinen, fourth after two stages, slipped out of contention after hitting a rock on a tight corner, damaging the wheel and his steering. The problem cost him more than nine minutes.
“It’s the longest stage I’ve ever had to do with no power steering and it was very tricky and rough out there,” he said after ending the day 19th.
Ford’s Markko Martin, winner of the last Acropolis Rally, was seventh after suffering hydraulic problems and having to change gears manually for about 30 km.
