LIMASSOL, Cyprus, 22 June 2003 — Petter Solberg held the Cyprus Rally lead following overnight leader Marcus Gronholm’s retirement during the grueling eight-stage second leg yesterday.
The Norwegian Subaru driver was nearly 15 seconds ahead of second-placed Finn Harri Rovanpera, Gronholm’s Peugeot teammate and compatriot, after the 10th special stage, sixth of the day, the official WRC website reported.
The day’s first three specials took a high toll with the Peugeots of Gronholm and Gilles Panizzi, the Ford of Markko Martin of Estonia and Frenchman Francois Duval and Belgian Freddie Loix’s Hyundai all pulling out.
World championship leader Richard Burns followed them out of the race after the 10th stage when he was in sixth place more than five and a half minutes behind Solberg.
Burns, who suffered from hydraulic problems on Friday, retired when his engine expired one kilometer from the service park after overheating on the ninth and 10th stages.
Defending world champion Gronholm retired in the sixth special after damaging his propshaft.
Solberg came under attack from Rovanpera in the middle of the leg but made a fine comeback in the 10th stage, pulling back 10 seconds in 15 kilometers.
“We had no problems over those three stages (8-10). We kept to the same strategy, with no attack. We took it carefully over the rougher stuff and then pushed a little harder when conditions were better,” Solberg said.
“If you’re going to be world champion then it’s the only way to drive - look at Carlos Sainz in Turkey. He wasn’t the quickest driver but he won anyway.”
Frenchman Sebastien Loeb was third in his Citroen, nearly two and a half minutes off the pace and a good 40 seconds ahead of Colin McRae, fourth in a Citroen.
Spaniard Sainz, second in the championship standings five points behind Burns, was in fifth place more than five and a half minutes adrift.
The Fords of Acropolis Rally winner Martin and Duval both retired during the fifth stage due to the same problem, loss of oil pressure.
Frenchman Panizzi suffered engine failure during the sixth special and Loix also retired close to the end of that stage with engine trouble.
