2003 Tour de Corse
# 2003 Tour de Corse

The 2003 Tour de Corse (formally the 47th Tour de Corse - Rallye de France) was the twelfth round of the 2003 World Rally Championship. The race was held over three days between 17 October and 19 October 2003, and was based in Ajaccio, France. Subaru's Petter Solberg won the race, his 4th win in the World Rally Championship.

## Background

### Entry list

| No. | Driver | Co-Driver | Entrant | Car | Tyre |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| World Rally Championship manufacturer entries ||||||
| 1 | Marcus Grönholm | Timo Rautiainen | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 206 WRC | M |
| 2 | Richard Burns | Robert Reid | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 206 WRC | M |
| 3 | Gilles Panizzi | Hervé Panizzi | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 206 WRC | M |
| 4 | Markko Märtin | Michael Park | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | M |
| 5 | François Duval | Stéphane Prévot | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | M |
| 6 | Mikko Hirvonen | Jarmo Lehtinen | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Focus RS WRC '02 | M |
| 7 | Petter Solberg | Phil Mills | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | P |
| 8 | Tommi Mäkinen | Kaj Lindström | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | P |
| 14 | Didier Auriol | Denis Giraudet | Škoda Motorsport | Škoda Fabia WRC | M |
| 15 | Toni Gardemeister | Paavo Lukander | Škoda Motorsport | Škoda Fabia WRC | M |
| 17 | Colin McRae | Derek Ringer | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | M |
| 18 | Sébastien Loeb | Daniel Elena | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | M |
| 19 | Carlos Sainz | Marc Martí | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | M |
| 20 | Philippe Bugalski | Jean-Paul Chiaroni | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | M |
| World Rally Championship entries ||||||
| 21 | Alexandre Bengué | Caroline Escudero-Bengué | Alexandre Bengué | Peugeot 206 WRC | M |
| 22 | Antony Warmbold | Gemma Price | AW Rally Team | Ford Focus RS WRC '02 | M |
| 23 | Cédric Robert | Gérald Bedon | Equipe de France FFSA | Peugeot 206 WRC | M |
| 32 | Manfred Stohl | Ilka Minor | Stohl Racing | Peugeot 206 WRC | P |
| 34 | Benoît Rousselot | Gilles Mondésir | Benoît Rousselot | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | — |
| 35 | Alistair Ginley | Rory Kennedy | Alistair Ginley | Ford Focus RS WRC '01 | — |
| 102 | Armando Pereira | Mickaële Rouillon | Armando Pereira | Subaru Impreza S7 WRC '01 | M |
| 103 | Jean-Claude Torre | Patrick de la Foata | Jean-Claude Torre | Peugeot 206 WRC | M |
| 104 | Didier Cormoreche | René Belleville | Didier Cormoreche | Peugeot 206 WRC | M |
| 105 | José Micheli | Marie-Josée Cardi | José Micheli | Toyota Corolla WRC | M |
| 106 | Alain Vauthier | Erwin Mombaerts | Alain Vauthier | Subaru Impreza S5 WRC '99 | M |
| PWRC entries ||||||
| 52 | Daniel Solà | Álex Romaní | Mauro Rally Tuning | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | P |
| 53 | Ramón Ferreyros | Javier Marín | Mauro Rally Tuning | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | — |
| 54 | Toshihiro Arai | Tony Sircombe | Subaru Production Rally Team | Subaru Impreza WRX STI N10 | P |
| 55 | Martin Rowe | Trevor Agnew | David Sutton Cars Ltd | Subaru Impreza WRX STI N10 | P |
| 59 | Stefano Marrini | Tiziana Sandroni | Top Run SRL | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | — |
| 60 | Niall McShea | Chris Patterson | Neil Allport Motorsports | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI | M |
| 61 | Janusz Kulig | Maciej Szczepaniak | Mobil 1 Team Poland | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | — |
| 64 | Joakim Roman | Ragnar Spjuth | Milbrooks World Rally Team | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V | — |
| 65 | Stig Blomqvist | Ana Goñi | David Sutton Cars Ltd | Subaru Impreza WRX STI N10 | P |
| 69 | Bob Colsoul | Tom Colsoul | Guy Colsoul Rallysport | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | M |
| 70 | Riccardo Errani | Stefano Casadio | Errani Team Group | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI | — |
| 74 | Fabio Frisiero | Giovanni Agnese | Motoring Club | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | — |
| 76 | Patrick Richard | Ola Fløene | Subaru Rally Team Canada | Subaru Impreza STI N9 | P |
| 77 | Alfredo De Dominicis | Giovanni Bernacchini | Ralliart Italy | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | — |
| 80 | Ricardo Triviño | Jordi Barrabés | Triviño Racing | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | — |
| Source: ||||||

### Itinerary

All dates and times are CEST (UTC+2).

| Date | Time | No. | Stage name | Distance |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Leg 1 — 95.30 km |||||
| 17 October | 10:11 | SS1 | Cargese — Paomia 1 | 14.64 km |
| 17 October | 10:44 | SS2 | Vico — Pont du Liamone 1 | 15.49 km |
| 17 October | 11:17 | SS3 | Golfe de la Liscia — Sarrola Carcopino 1 | 17.52 km |
| 17 October | 14:23 | SS4 | Cargese — Paomia 2 | 14.64 km |
| 17 October | 14:56 | SS5 | Vico — Pont du Liamone 2 | 15.49 km |
| 17 October | 15:29 | SS6 | Golfe de la Liscia — Sarrola Carcopino 2 | 17.52 km |
| Leg 2 — 190.00 km |||||
| 18 October | 08:33 | SS7 | Ampaza — Petreto 1 | 38.64 km |
| 18 October | 09:36 | SS8 | Pont de la Masina — Col St. Georges 1 | 15.42 km |
| 18 October | 11:29 | SS9 | Col de Carazzi — Bastelica 1 | 40.94 km |
| 18 October | 14:07 | SS10 | Ampaza — Petreto 2 | 38.64 km |
| 18 October | 15:10 | SS11 | Pont de la Masina — Col St. Georges 2 | 15.42 km |
| 18 October | 17:03 | SS12 | Col de Carazzi — Bastelica 2 | 40.94 km |
| Leg 3 — 112.10 km |||||
| 19 October | 08:12 | SS13 | Penitencier Coti Chiavari — Pietra Rossa 1 | 24.24 km |
| 19 October | 08:55 | SS14 | Pont de Calzola — Agosta 1 | 31.81 km |
| 19 October | 11:47 | SS15 | Penitencier Coti Chiavari — Pietra Rossa 2 | 24.24 km |
| 19 October | 12:30 | SS16 | Pont de Calzola — Agosta 2 | 31.81 km |
| Source: |||||

## Results

### Overall

| Pos. | No. | Driver | Co-driver | Team | Car | Time | Difference | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 7 | Petter Solberg | Phil Mills | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 4:20:15.3 | | 10 |
| 2 | 19 | Carlos Sainz | Marc Martí | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | 4:20:51.9 | +36.6 | 8 |
| 3 | 5 | François Duval | Stéphane Prévot | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 4:20:57.0 | +41.7 | 6 |
| 4 | 1 | Marcus Grönholm | Timo Rautiainen | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 206 WRC | 4:21:24.5 | +1:09.2 | 5 |
| 5 | 17 | Colin McRae | Derek Ringer | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | 4:21:41.3 | +1:26.0 | 4 |
| 6 | 3 | Gilles Panizzi | Hervé Panizzi | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 206 WRC | 4:22:14.0 | +1:58.7 | 3 |
| 7 | 8 | Tommi Mäkinen | Kaj Lindström | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 4:22:41.1 | +2:25.8 | 2 |
| 8 | 2 | Richard Burns | Robert Reid | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 206 WRC | 4:22:52.0 | +2:36.7 | 1 |

### World Rally Cars

**Classification**

| Position | Position | No. | Driver | Co-driver | Entrant | Car | Time | Difference | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Event | Class | No. | Driver | Co-driver | Entrant | Car | Time | Difference | Points |
| 1 | 1 | 7 | Petter Solberg | Phil Mills | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 4:20:15.3 | | 10 |
| 2 | 2 | 19 | Carlos Sainz | Marc Martí | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | 4:20:51.9 | +36.6 | 8 |
| 3 | 3 | 5 | François Duval | Stéphane Prévot | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 4:20:57.0 | +41.7 | 6 |
| 4 | 4 | 1 | Marcus Grönholm | Timo Rautiainen | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 206 WRC | 4:21:24.5 | +1:09.2 | 5 |
| 5 | 5 | 17 | Colin McRae | Derek Ringer | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | 4:21:41.3 | +1:26.0 | 4 |
| 6 | 6 | 3 | Gilles Panizzi | Hervé Panizzi | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 206 WRC | 4:22:14.0 | +1:58.7 | 3 |
| 7 | 7 | 8 | Tommi Mäkinen | Kaj Lindström | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 4:22:41.1 | +2:25.8 | 2 |
| 8 | 8 | 2 | Richard Burns | Robert Reid | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 206 WRC | 4:22:52.0 | +2:36.7 | 1 |
| 9 | 9 | 20 | Philippe Bugalski | Jean-Paul Chiaroni | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | 4:23:02.1 | +2:46.8 | 0 |
| 10 | 10 | 6 | Mikko Hirvonen | Jarmo Lehtinen | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Focus RS WRC '02 | 4:24:10.7 | +3:55.4 | 0 |
| 11 | 11 | 15 | Toni Gardemeister | Paavo Lukander | Škoda Motorsport | Škoda Fabia WRC | 4:25:25.2 | +5:09.9 | 0 |
| 13 | 12 | 18 | Sébastien Loeb | Daniel Elena | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | 4:29:49.3 | +9:34.0 | 0 |
| Retired SS15 | Retired SS15 | 4 | Markko Märtin | Michael Park | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | Accident | Accident | 0 |
| Retired SS1 | Retired SS1 | 14 | Didier Auriol | Denis Giraudet | Škoda Motorsport | Škoda Fabia WRC | Electrical | Electrical | 0 |

**Special stages**

| Day | Stage | Stage name | Length | Winner | Car | Time | Class leaders |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Leg 1 (17 Oct) | SS1 | Cargese — Paomia 1 | 14.64 km | Carlos Sainz | Citroën Xsara WRC | 9:49.6 | Carlos Sainz |
| Leg 1 (17 Oct) | SS2 | Vico — Pont du Liamone 1 | 15.49 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 10:04.6 | Markko Märtin |
| Leg 1 (17 Oct) | SS3 | Golfe de la Liscia — Sarrola Carcopino 1 | 17.52 km | Markko Märtin | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 10:43.6 | Markko Märtin |
| Leg 1 (17 Oct) | SS4 | Cargese — Paomia 2 | 14.64 km | François Duval | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 9:45.3 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 1 (17 Oct) | SS5 | Vico — Pont du Liamone 2 | 15.49 km | Markko Märtin | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 10:03.6 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 1 (17 Oct) | SS6 | Golfe de la Liscia — Sarrola Carcopino 2 | 17.52 km | Markko Märtin | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 10:43.2 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 2 (18 Oct) | SS7 | Ampaza — Petreto 1 | 38.64 km | Markko Märtin | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 25:32.2 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 2 (18 Oct) | SS8 | Pont de la Masina — Col St. Georges 1 | 15.42 km | Mikko Hirvonen | Ford Focus RS WRC '02 | 10:31.5 | François Duval |
| Leg 2 (18 Oct) | SS9 | Col de Carazzi — Bastelica 1 | 40.94 km | Gilles Panizzi | Peugeot 206 WRC | 27:23.5 | François Duval |
| Leg 2 (18 Oct) | SS10 | Ampaza — Petreto 2 | 38.64 km | Petter Solberg | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 25:20.7 | François Duval |
| Leg 2 (18 Oct) | SS11 | Pont de la Masina — Col St. Georges 2 | 15.42 km | Petter Solberg | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 10:22.3 | François Duval |
| Leg 2 (18 Oct) | SS12 | Col de Carazzi — Bastelica 2 | 40.94 km | Petter Solberg | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 27:15.6 | Petter Solberg |
| Leg 3 (19 Oct) | SS13 | Penitencier Coti Chiavari — Pietra Rossa 1 | 24.24 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 15:19.0 | Petter Solberg |
| Leg 3 (19 Oct) | SS14 | Pont de Calzola — Agosta 1 | 31.81 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 19:47.2 | Petter Solberg |
| Leg 3 (19 Oct) | SS15 | Penitencier Coti Chiavari — Pietra Rossa 2 | 24.24 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 15:25.4 | Petter Solberg |
| Leg 3 (19 Oct) | SS16 | Pont de Calzola — Agosta 2 | 31.81 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 19:56.4 | Petter Solberg |

**Championship standings**

| Pos. | Drivers' championships | Drivers' championships | Drivers' championships | Co-drivers' championships | Co-drivers' championships | Co-drivers' championships | Manufacturers' championships | Manufacturers' championships | Manufacturers' championships |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Pos. | Move | Driver | Points | Move | Co-driver | Points | Move | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 2 | Carlos Sainz | 61 | 2 | Marc Martí | 61 | | Citroën Total WRT | 137 |
| 2 | 2 | Petter Solberg | 58 | 2 | Phil Mills | 58 | | Marlboro Peugeot Total | 129 |
| 3 | 2 | Richard Burns | 58 | 2 | Robert Reid | 58 | | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | 88 |
| 4 | 2 | Sébastien Loeb | 55 | 2 | Daniel Elena | 55 | | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | 78 |
| 5 | 1 | Marcus Grönholm | 43 | 1 | Timo Rautiainen | 43 | | Škoda Motorsport | 21 |

### Production World Rally Championship

**Classification**

| Position | Position | No. | Driver | Co-driver | Entrant | Car | Time | Difference | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Event | Class | No. | Driver | Co-driver | Entrant | Car | Time | Difference | Points |
| 16 | 1 | 60 | Niall McShea | Chris Patterson | Neil Allport Motorsports | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI | 4:49:47.8 | | 10 |
| 17 | 2 | 54 | Toshihiro Arai | Tony Sircombe | Subaru Production Rally Team | Subaru Impreza WRX STI N10 | 4:50:45.4 | +57.6 | 8 |
| 18 | 3 | 55 | Martin Rowe | Trevor Agnew | David Sutton Cars Ltd | Subaru Impreza WRX STI N10 | 4:54:51.8 | +5:04.0 | 6 |
| 19 | 4 | 61 | Janusz Kulig | Maciej Szczepaniak | Mobil 1 Team Poland | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 4:55:46.2 | +5:58.4 | 5 |
| 20 | 5 | 65 | Stig Blomqvist | Ana Goñi | David Sutton Cars Ltd | Subaru Impreza WRX STI N10 | 4:55:51.4 | +6:03.6 | 4 |
| 23 | 6 | 69 | Bob Colsoul | Tom Colsoul | Guy Colsoul Rallysport | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 4:57:57.3 | +8:09.5 | 3 |
| 25 | 7 | 80 | Ricardo Triviño | Jordi Barrabés | Triviño Racing | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 5:07:13.9 | +17:26.1 | 2 |
| 29 | 8 | 70 | Riccardo Errani | Stefano Casadio | Errani Team Group | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI | 5:28:17.8 | +38:30.0 | 1 |
| 32 | 9 | 64 | Joakim Roman | Ragnar Spjuth | Milbrooks World Rally Team | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V | 5:41:35.0 | +51:47.2 | 0 |
| 33 | 10 | 59 | Stefano Marrini | Tiziana Sandroni | Top Run SRL | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 5:41:50.3 | +52:02.5 | 0 |
| Retired SS15 | Retired SS15 | 52 | Daniel Solà | Álex Romaní | Mauro Rally Tuning | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | Mechanical | Mechanical | 0 |
| Retired SS10 | Retired SS10 | 74 | Fabio Frisiero | Giovanni Agnese | Motoring Club | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | Accident | Accident | 0 |
| Retired SS9 | Retired SS9 | 76 | Patrick Richard | Ola Fløene | Subaru Rally Team Canada | Subaru Impreza STI N9 | Mechanical | Mechanical | 0 |
| Retired SS4 | Retired SS4 | 77 | Alfredo De Dominicis | Giovanni Bernacchini | Ralliart Italy | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | Mechanical | Mechanical | 0 |
| Retired SS1 | Retired SS1 | 53 | Ramón Ferreyros | Javier Marín | Mauro Rally Tuning | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | Mechanical | Mechanical | 0 |

**Special stages**

| Day | Stage | Stage name | Length | Winner | Car | Time | Class leaders |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Leg 1 (17 Oct) | SS1 | Cargese — Paomia 1 | 14.64 km | Daniel Solà | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 10:35.8 | Daniel Solà |
| Leg 1 (17 Oct) | SS2 | Vico — Pont du Liamone 1 | 15.49 km | Daniel Solà | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 10:58.3 | Daniel Solà |
| Leg 1 (17 Oct) | SS3 | Golfe de la Liscia — Sarrola Carcopino 1 | 17.52 km | Daniel Solà | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 11:53.8 | Daniel Solà |
| Leg 1 (17 Oct) | SS4 | Cargese — Paomia 2 | 14.64 km | Daniel Solà | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 10:34.6 | Daniel Solà |
| Leg 1 (17 Oct) | SS5 | Vico — Pont du Liamone 2 | 15.49 km | Daniel Solà | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 10:54.0 | Daniel Solà |
| Leg 1 (17 Oct) | SS6 | Golfe de la Liscia — Sarrola Carcopino 2 | 17.52 km | Daniel Solà | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 11:51.1 | Daniel Solà |
| Leg 2 (18 Oct) | SS7 | Ampaza — Petreto 1 | 38.64 km | Daniel Solà | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 28:02.5 | Daniel Solà |
| Leg 2 (18 Oct) | SS8 | Pont de la Masina — Col St. Georges 1 | 15.42 km | Daniel Solà | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 11:52.1 | Daniel Solà |
| Leg 2 (18 Oct) | SS9 | Col de Carazzi — Bastelica 1 | 40.94 km | Daniel Solà | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 30:01.1 | Daniel Solà |
| Leg 2 (18 Oct) | SS10 | Ampaza — Petreto 2 | 38.64 km | Daniel Solà | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 27:44.8 | Daniel Solà |
| Leg 2 (18 Oct) | SS11 | Pont de la Masina — Col St. Georges 2 | 15.42 km | Niall McShea | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI | 11:36.6 | Daniel Solà |
| Leg 2 (18 Oct) | SS12 | Col de Carazzi — Bastelica 2 | 40.94 km | Daniel Solà | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 30:08.4 | Daniel Solà |
| Leg 3 (19 Oct) | SS13 | Penitencier Coti Chiavari — Pietra Rossa 1 | 24.24 km | Toshihiro Arai | Subaru Impreza WRX STI N10 | 17:04.6 | Niall McShea |
| Leg 3 (19 Oct) | SS14 | Pont de Calzola — Agosta 1 | 31.81 km | Toshihiro Arai | Subaru Impreza WRX STI N10 | 22:01.8 | Niall McShea |
| Leg 3 (19 Oct) | SS15 | Penitencier Coti Chiavari — Pietra Rossa 2 | 24.24 km | Janusz Kulig | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 17:11.8 | Niall McShea |
| Leg 3 (19 Oct) | SS16 | Pont de Calzola — Agosta 2 | 31.81 km | Janusz Kulig | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 22:13.6 | Niall McShea |

**Championship standings**

* Bold text indicates 2003 World Champions.

| Pos. | Drivers' championships | Drivers' championships | Drivers' championships |
| - | - | - | - |
| Pos. | Move | Driver | Points |
| 1 | | Martin Rowe | 43 |
| 2 | | Toshihiro Arai | 38 |
| 3 | 1 | Stig Blomqvist | 30 |
| 4 | 1 | Karamjit Singh | 30 |
| 5 | | Daniel Solà | 22 |
