LIMASSOL, Cyprus, 16 May 2004 — Peugeot’s Marcus Gronholm extended his lead in the second leg of the Cyprus Rally on Saturday, but organizers had to cancel one of the longest stages because of safety concerns.
Organizers were forced to scrap the afternoon repeat 30.3 km run from Foini to Koilinia after too many spectators turned up at the main watersplash at Gellefos river. It was declared a tied stage and the subsequent regroup delayed the last special stage by 41 minutes.
Gronholm, twice a world champion, was 22.9 seconds clear of Citroen’s Sebastien Loeb despite two tires coming off the rims of his car in the rough terrain of the Troodos mountain range in the opening loop of yesterday’s leg.
“It’s been the same for everybody,” said Gronholm. “I’m just concentrating on keeping tidy and looking after the car.
Frenchman Loeb, winner of both the Monte Carlo and Swedish rallies heads into the final six timed stages today, more than 10 seconds ahead of Ford’s Markko Martin.
Estonian Martin, the championship leader after four rounds this year and just a point clear of Loeb, moved into third after Finland’s Harri Rovanpera lost time with gearbox problems in his Peugeot.
Martin himself had minor problems after hitting a rock when cutting a corner. “We bent a steering arm and three tires came off the rim in the ninth stage,” said British co-driver Michael Park.
Norwegian world champion Petter Solberg, hit by overheating problems in the final three loops of Friday’s first leg, clawed back into the top 10 after the dust-clogged radiator was changed on his Subaru Impreza late on Friday. He had the fastest time on three of yesterday’s stages.
Frances’ Gilles Panizzi in a Mitsubishi was forced to retire on the road to Limassol after the ninth stage with rear suspension and engine problems.
