2003 Acropolis Rally

2003 Acropolis Rally
50th Golden Acropolis Rally
Round 6 of the 2003 World Rally Championship season
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Host country Greece
Rally baseLamia
Dates runJune 6, 2003 – June 8, 2003
Stages22 (399.49 km; 248.23 miles)
Stage surfaceGravel
Overall distance1,441.37 km (895.63 miles)
Statistics
Crews83 at start, 37 at finish
Overall results
Overall winnerEstonia Markko Märtin
United Kingdom Michael Park
United Kingdom Ford Motor Co. Ltd.
Ford Focus RS WRC '03

The 2003 Acropolis Rally (formally the 50th Golden Acropolis Rally) was the sixth round of the 2003 World Rally Championship. The race was held over three days between 6 June and 8 June 2003, and was based in Lamia, Greece. Ford's Markko Märtin won the race, his 1st win in the World Rally Championship.[1]

Background

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Entry list

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No. Driver Co-Driver Entrant Car Tyre
World Rally Championship manufacturer entries
1 Finland Marcus Grönholm Finland Timo Rautiainen France Marlboro Peugeot Total Peugeot 206 WRC M
2 United Kingdom Richard Burns United Kingdom Robert Reid France Marlboro Peugeot Total Peugeot 206 WRC M
3 Finland Harri Rovanperä Finland Risto Pietiläinen France Marlboro Peugeot Total Peugeot 206 WRC M
4 Estonia Markko Märtin United Kingdom Michael Park United Kingdom Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Focus RS WRC '03 M
5 Belgium François Duval Belgium Stéphane Prévot United Kingdom Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Focus RS WRC '03 M
6 Finland Mikko Hirvonen Finland Jarmo Lehtinen United Kingdom Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Focus RS WRC '02 M
7 Norway Petter Solberg United Kingdom Phil Mills Japan 555 Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 P
8 Finland Tommi Mäkinen Finland Kaj Lindström Japan 555 Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 P
10 Germany Armin Schwarz Germany Manfred Hiemer South Korea Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai Accent WRC3 M
11 Belgium Freddy Loix Belgium Sven Smeets South Korea Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai Accent WRC3 M
12 Finland Jussi Välimäki Finland Tero Gardemeister South Korea Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai Accent WRC3 M
14 France Didier Auriol France Denis Giraudet Czech Republic Škoda Motorsport Škoda Octavia WRC Evo3 M
15 Finland Toni Gardemeister Finland Paavo Lukander Czech Republic Škoda Motorsport Škoda Octavia WRC Evo3 M
17 United Kingdom Colin McRae United Kingdom Derek Ringer France Citroën Total WRT Citroën Xsara WRC M
18 France Sébastien Loeb Monaco Daniel Elena France Citroën Total WRT Citroën Xsara WRC M
19 Spain Carlos Sainz Spain Marc Martí France Citroën Total WRT Citroën Xsara WRC M
World Rally Championship entries
20 Finland Jari-Matti Latvala United Kingdom Carl Williamson United Kingdom Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Focus RS WRC '02 M
21 France Gilles Panizzi France Hervé Panizzi France Bozian Racing Peugeot 206 WRC M
22 Czech Republic Roman Kresta Czech Republic Miloš Hůlka France Bozian Racing Peugeot 206 WRC M
23 Germany Antony Warmbold United Kingdom Gemma Price Germany AW Rally Team Ford Focus RS WRC '02 M
24 Finland Juuso Pykälistö Finland Esko Mertsalmi France Bozian Racing Peugeot 206 WRC M
25 Spain Daniel Solà Spain Álex Romaní France Citroën Sport Citroën Xsara WRC M
26 Austria Manfred Stohl Austria Ilka Minor Austria Manfred Stohl Hyundai Accent WRC3 M
32 United Kingdom Alistair Ginley Republic of Ireland Rory Kennedy United Kingdom Alistair Ginley Ford Focus RS WRC '01
33 Poland Tomasz Kuchar Poland Maciek Szczepaniak Poland Tomasz Kuchar Ford Focus RS WRC '02 M
34 Greece Armodios Vovos Greece Loris Meletopoulos Greece Armodios Vovos Ford Focus RS WRC '01
35 Greece Ioannis Papadimitriou United Kingdom Allan Harryman Greece Ioannis Papadimitriou Ford Focus RS WRC'01 P
101 Slovakia Jozef Béreš Jr. Czech Republic Petr Starý Slovakia Styllex Tuning Motorsport Toyota Corolla WRC
JWRC entries
51 San Marino Mirco Baldacci Italy Giovanni Bernacchini Italy Purity Auto Fiat Punto S1600 M
52 Sweden Daniel Carlsson Sweden Matthias Andersson Japan Suzuki Sport Suzuki Ignis S1600 M
54 Finland Kosti Katajamäki Finland Miikka Anttila Germany Volkswagen Racing Volkswagen Polo S1600 M
55 Norway Martin Stenshorne United Kingdom Clive Jenkins United Kingdom Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Puma S1600 M
57 Bulgaria Dimitar Iliev Bulgaria Petar Sivov Italy Auto Sport Italia Peugeot 206 S1600 M
58 Argentina Marcos Ligato Argentina Rubén Garcia Italy Top Run SRL Fiat Punto S1600 M
59 Austria Beppo Harrach Germany Michael Kölbach Italy Astra Racing Ford Puma S1600 M
61 France Brice Tirabassi France Jacques-Julien Renucci France Renault Sport Renault Clio S1600 M
62 Sweden Oscar Svedlund Sweden Björn Nilsson Germany Volkswagen Racing Volkswagen Polo S1600 M
63 Italy Massimo Ceccato Italy Mitia Dotta Italy Top Run SRL Fiat Punto S1600 M
64 Finland Ville-Pertti Teuronen Finland Harri Kaapro Japan Suzuki Sport Suzuki Ignis S1600 M
65 Lebanon Abdo Feghali Lebanon Joseph Matar Italy Astra Racing Ford Puma S1600 M
67 San Marino Alessandro Broccoli Italy Simona Girelli San Marino Sab Motorsport Opel Corsa S1600 M
69 Spain Salvador Cañellas Jr. Spain Xavier Amigó Japan Suzuki Sport Suzuki Ignis S1600 M
70 United Kingdom Guy Wilks United Kingdom Phil Pugh United Kingdom Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Puma S1600 M
71 Estonia Urmo Aava Estonia Kuldar Sikk Japan Suzuki Sport Suzuki Ignis S1600 M
73 Bulgaria Krum Donchev Bulgaria Ruman Manolov Italy Auto Sport Italia Opel Corsa S1600 M
74 United Kingdom Kris Meeke United Kingdom Chris Patterson Germany Opel Motorsport Opel Corsa S1600 M
76 Italy Luca Cecchettini Italy Marco Muzzarelli Italy Top Run SRL Fiat Punto S1600 M
78 Germany Vladan Vasiljevic Germany Sebastian Geipel Germany Volkswagen Racing Volkswagen Polo S1600 M
Source:[2]

Itinerary

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All dates and times are EEST (UTC+3).

Date Time No. Stage name Distance
Leg 1 — 145.74 km
6 June 08:18 SS1 Pavliani 1 24.45 km
09:07 SS2 Stromi 1 14.61 km
10:10 SS3 Eleftherohori 18.67 km
12:18 SS4 Rengini 1 11.84 km
12:46 SS5 Elatia — Zeli 1 34.68 km
15:37 SS6 Pavliani 2 24.45 km
16:26 SS7 Stromi 2 14.61 km
18:01 SS8 SSS Lilea — Parnassos 1 2.43 km
Leg 2 — 148.71 km
7 June 06:56 SS9 Mendenitsa 17.34 km
08:21 SS10 Bauxites 1 23.45 km
09:44 SS11 Drosohori 1 17.76 km
12:17 SS12 Rengini 2 11.84 km
12:45 SS13 Elatia — Zeli 2 34.68 km
16:03 SS14 Bauxites 2 23.45 km
17:26 SS15 Drosohori 2 17.76 km
18:18 SS16 SSS Lilea — Parnassos 2 2.43 km
Leg 3 — 105.04 km
8 June 09:28 SS17 Dikastro 1 18.40 km
10:06 SS18 New Tarzan 1 20.65 km
11:04 SS19 Agios Stefanos 1 13.47 km
13:32 SS20 Dikastro 2 18.40 km
14:10 SS21 New Tarzan 2 20.65 km
15:08 SS22 Agios Stefanos 2 13.47 km

Results

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Overall

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Pos. No. Driver Co-driver Team Car Time Difference Points
1 4 Estonia Markko Märtin United Kingdom Michael Park United Kingdom Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Focus RS WRC '03 4:53:40.5 10
2 19 Spain Carlos Sainz Spain Marc Martí France Citroën Total WRT Citroën Xsara WRC 4:54:26.5 +46.0 8
3 7 Norway Petter Solberg United Kingdom Phil Mills Japan 555 Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 4:54:33.2 +52.7 6
4 2 United Kingdom Richard Burns United Kingdom Robert Reid France Marlboro Peugeot Total Peugeot 206 WRC 4:55:47.1 +2:06.6 5
5 8 Finland Tommi Mäkinen Finland Kaj Lindström Japan 555 Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 4:55:52.8 +2:12.3 4
6 3 Finland Harri Rovanperä Finland Risto Pietiläinen France Marlboro Peugeot Total Peugeot 206 WRC 4:57:25.2 +3:44.7 3
7 21 France Gilles Panizzi France Hervé Panizzi France Bozian Racing Peugeot 206 WRC 4:57:34.8 +3:54.3 2
8 17 United Kingdom Colin McRae United Kingdom Derek Ringer France Citroën Total WRT Citroën Xsara WRC 4:57:45.5 +4:05.0 1

World Rally Cars

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Classification

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Position No. Driver Co-driver Entrant Car Time Difference Points
Event Class
1 1 4 Estonia Markko Märtin United Kingdom Michael Park United Kingdom Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Focus RS WRC '03 4:53:40.5 10
2 2 19 Spain Carlos Sainz Spain Marc Martí France Citroën Total WRT Citroën Xsara WRC 4:54:26.5 +46.0 8
3 3 7 Norway Petter Solberg United Kingdom Phil Mills Japan 555 Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 4:54:33.2 +52.7 6
4 4 2 United Kingdom Richard Burns United Kingdom Robert Reid France Marlboro Peugeot Total Peugeot 206 WRC 4:55:47.1 +2:06.6 5
5 5 8 Finland Tommi Mäkinen Finland Kaj Lindström Japan 555 Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 4:55:52.8 +2:12.3 4
6 6 3 Finland Harri Rovanperä Finland Risto Pietiläinen France Marlboro Peugeot Total Peugeot 206 WRC 4:57:25.2 +3:44.7 3
8 7 17 United Kingdom Colin McRae United Kingdom Derek Ringer France Citroën Total WRT Citroën Xsara WRC 4:57:45.5 +4:05.0 1
9 8 14 France Didier Auriol France Denis Giraudet Czech Republic Škoda Motorsport Škoda Octavia WRC Evo3 5:00:07.7 +6:27.2 0
Retired SS9 1 Finland Marcus Grönholm Finland Timo Rautiainen France Marlboro Peugeot Total Peugeot 206 WRC Fuel pump 0
Retired SS9 12 Finland Jussi Välimäki Finland Tero Gardemeister South Korea Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai Accent WRC3 Clutch 0
Retired SS6 6 Finland Mikko Hirvonen Finland Jarmo Lehtinen United Kingdom Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Focus RS WRC '02 Suspension 0
Retired SS6 15 Finland Toni Gardemeister Finland Paavo Lukander Czech Republic Škoda Motorsport Škoda Octavia WRC Evo3 Turbo 0
Retired SS5 5 Belgium François Duval Belgium Stéphane Prévot United Kingdom Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Focus RS WRC '03 Accident 0
Retired SS3 11 Belgium Freddy Loix Belgium Sven Smeets South Korea Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai Accent WRC3 Suspension 0
Retired SS1 10 Germany Armin Schwarz Germany Manfred Hiemer South Korea Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai Accent WRC3 Alternator 0
Retired SS1 18 France Sébastien Loeb Monaco Daniel Elena France Citroën Total WRT Citroën Xsara WRC Engine 0

Special stages

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Day Stage Stage name Length Winner Car Time Class leaders
Leg 1 (6 Jun) SS1 Pavliani 1 24.45 km Belgium François Duval Ford Focus RS WRC '03 19:54.7 Belgium François Duval
SS2 Stromi 1 14.61 km Estonia Markko Märtin Ford Focus RS WRC '03 11:40.2 Estonia Markko Märtin
SS3 Eleftherohori 18.67 km Finland Harri Rovanperä Peugeot 206 WRC 11:28.2
SS4 Rengini 1 11.84 km Finland Harri Rovanperä Peugeot 206 WRC 8:41.8
SS5 Elatia — Zeli 1 34.68 km Finland Harri Rovanperä Peugeot 206 WRC 24:21.9
SS6 Pavliani 2 24.45 km Norway Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 19:29.5
SS7 Stromi 2 14.61 km Finland Marcus Grönholm Peugeot 206 WRC 11:25.6
SS8 SSS Lilea — Parnassos 1 2.43 km Stage cancelled
Leg 2 (7 Jun) SS9 Mendenitsa 17.34 km Norway Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 10:55.0
SS10 Bauxites 1 23.45 km Norway Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 14:14.8
SS11 Drosohori 1 17.76 km Estonia Markko Märtin Ford Focus RS WRC '03 14:48.6
SS12 Rengini 2 11.84 km Finland Harri Rovanperä Peugeot 206 WRC 8:30.2
SS13 Elatia — Zeli 2 34.68 km Estonia Markko Märtin Ford Focus RS WRC '03 23:44.2
SS14 Bauxites 2 23.45 km Estonia Markko Märtin Ford Focus RS WRC '03 13:51.9
SS15 Drosohori 2 17.76 km Estonia Markko Märtin Ford Focus RS WRC '03 14:23.6
SS16 SSS Lilea — Parnassos 2 2.43 km Spain Carlos Sainz Citroën Xsara WRC 1:57.6
Leg 3 (8 Jun) SS17 Dikastro 1 18.40 km Norway Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 16:08.7
SS18 New Tarzan 1 20.65 km Norway Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 15:27.8
SS19 Agios Stefanos 1 13.47 km Finland Tommi Mäkinen Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 10:02.6
SS20 Dikastro 2 18.40 km Norway Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 15:58.3
SS21 New Tarzan 2 20.65 km Spain Carlos Sainz Citroën Xsara WRC 15:10.3
SS22 Agios Stefanos 2 13.47 km Norway Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 9:46.7

Championship standings

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Pos. Drivers' championships Co-drivers' championships Manufacturers' championships
Move Driver Points Move Co-driver Points Move Manufacturer Points
1 United Kingdom Richard Burns 37 United Kingdom Robert Reid 37 France Marlboro Peugeot Total 73
2 2 Spain Carlos Sainz 32 2 Spain Marc Martí 32 France Citroën Total WRT 62
3 1 Finland Marcus Grönholm 30 1 Finland Timo Rautiainen 30 United Kingdom Ford Motor Co. Ltd. 39
4 2 Estonia Markko Märtin 23 2 United Kingdom Michael Park 23 Japan 555 Subaru World Rally Team 37
5 1 Norway Petter Solberg 19 1 United Kingdom Phil Mills 19 Czech Republic Škoda Motorsport 20

Junior World Rally Championship

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Classification

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Position No. Driver Co-driver Entrant Car Time Difference Points
Event Class
17 1 61 France Brice Tirabassi France Jacques-Julien Renucci France Renault Sport Renault Clio S1600 5:27:34.0 10
18 2 52 Sweden Daniel Carlsson Sweden Matthias Andersson Japan Suzuki Sport Suzuki Ignis S1600 5:28:29.2 +55.2 8
19 3 71 Estonia Urmo Aava Estonia Kuldar Sikk Japan Suzuki Sport Suzuki Ignis S1600 5:35:02.7 +7:28.7 6
22 4 69 Spain Salvador Cañellas Jr. Spain Xavier Amigó Japan Suzuki Sport Suzuki Ignis S1600 5:40:55.2 +13:21.2 5
27 5 62 Sweden Oscar Svedlund Sweden Björn Nilsson Germany Volkswagen Racing Volkswagen Polo S1600 5:49:22.1 +21:48.1 4
33 6 70 United Kingdom Guy Wilks United Kingdom Phil Pugh United Kingdom Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Puma S1600 6:04:08.1 +36:34.1 3
Retired SS21 51 San Marino Mirco Baldacci Italy Giovanni Bernacchini Italy Purity Auto Fiat Punto S1600 Mechanical 0
Retired SS17 63 Italy Massimo Ceccato Italy Mitia Dotta Italy Top Run SRL Fiat Punto S1600 Engine 0
Retired SS17 76 Italy Luca Cecchettini Italy Marco Muzzarelli Italy Top Run SRL Fiat Punto S1600 Engine 0
Retired SS11 54 Finland Kosti Katajamäki Finland Miikka Anttila Germany Volkswagen Racing Volkswagen Polo S1600 Gearbox 0
Retired SS11 67 San Marino Alessandro Broccoli Italy Simona Girelli San Marino Sab Motorsport Opel Corsa S1600 Driveshaft 0
Retired SS10 55 Norway Martin Stenshorne United Kingdom Clive Jenkins United Kingdom Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Puma S1600 Alternator 0
Retired SS7 64 Finland Ville-Pertti Teuronen Finland Harri Kaapro Japan Suzuki Sport Suzuki Ignis S1600 Driveshaft 0
Retired SS5 57 Bulgaria Dimitar Iliev Bulgaria Petar Sivov Italy Auto Sport Italia Peugeot 206 S1600 Engine 0
Retired SS5 73 Bulgaria Krum Donchev Bulgaria Ruman Manolov Italy Auto Sport Italia Opel Corsa S1600 Lost wheel 0
Retired SS4 65 Lebanon Abdo Feghali Lebanon Joseph Matar Italy Astra Racing Ford Puma S1600 Engine 0
Retired SS2 59 Austria Beppo Harrach Germany Michael Kölbach Italy Astra Racing Ford Puma S1600 Lost wheel 0
Retired SS1 58 Argentina Marcos Ligato Argentina Rubén Garcia Italy Top Run SRL Fiat Punto S1600 Steering 0
Retired SS1 74 United Kingdom Kris Meeke United Kingdom Chris Patterson Germany Opel Motorsport Opel Corsa S1600 Steering 0
Retired SS1 78 Germany Vladan Vasiljevic Germany Sebastian Geipel Germany Volkswagen Racing Volkswagen Polo S1600 Accident 0

Special stages

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Day Stage Stage name Length Winner Car Time Class leaders
Leg 1 (6 Jun) SS1 Pavliani 1 24.45 km France Brice Tirabassi Renault Clio S1600 21:50.4 France Brice Tirabassi
SS2 Stromi 1 14.61 km Sweden Daniel Carlsson Suzuki Ignis S1600 12:57.0
SS3 Eleftherohori 18.67 km Sweden Daniel Carlsson Suzuki Ignis S1600 12:45.3
SS4 Rengini 1 11.84 km France Brice Tirabassi Renault Clio S1600 9:52.4
SS5 Elatia — Zeli 1 34.68 km France Brice Tirabassi Renault Clio S1600 27:17.5
SS6 Pavliani 2 24.45 km France Brice Tirabassi Renault Clio S1600 21:36.6
SS7 Stromi 2 14.61 km France Brice Tirabassi Renault Clio S1600 12:47.5
SS8 SSS Lilea — Parnassos 1 2.43 km Stage cancelled
Leg 2 (7 Jun) SS9 Mendenitsa 17.34 km France Brice Tirabassi Renault Clio S1600 12:30.5
SS10 Bauxites 1 23.45 km France Brice Tirabassi Renault Clio S1600 16:01.7
SS11 Drosohori 1 17.76 km France Brice Tirabassi Renault Clio S1600 16:28.7
SS12 Rengini 2 11.84 km France Brice Tirabassi Renault Clio S1600 9:45.0
SS13 Elatia — Zeli 2 34.68 km Sweden Daniel Carlsson Suzuki Ignis S1600 27:04.4
SS14 Bauxites 2 23.45 km Sweden Daniel Carlsson Suzuki Ignis S1600 15:39.6
SS15 Drosohori 2 17.76  France Brice Tirabassi Renault Clio S1600 16:05.3
SS16 SSS Lilea — Parnassos 2 2.43 km Sweden Daniel Carlsson Suzuki Ignis S1600 2:08.9
Leg 3 (8 Jun) SS17 Dikastro 1 18.40 km France Brice Tirabassi Renault Clio S1600 17:59.8
SS18 New Tarzan 1 20.65 km Sweden Daniel Carlsson Suzuki Ignis S1600 16:58.0
SS19 Agios Stefanos 1 13.47 km France Brice Tirabassi Renault Clio S1600 11:04.8
SS20 Dikastro 2 18.40 km France Brice Tirabassi Renault Clio S1600 17:47.0
SS21 New Tarzan 2 20.65 km Sweden Daniel Carlsson Suzuki Ignis S1600 16:51.6
SS22 Agios Stefanos 2 13.47 km Sweden Daniel Carlsson Suzuki Ignis S1600 10:56.4

Championship standings

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Pos. Drivers' championships
Move Driver Points
1 France Brice Tirabassi 20
2 2 Spain Salvador Cañellas Jr. 13
3 4 Estonia Urmo Aava 11
4 2 Finland Kosti Katajamäki 10
5 1 United Kingdom Guy Wilks 9

References

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  1. ^ "Rally Acropolis". juwra.com. Independent WRC archive. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  2. ^ "Acropolis Rally 2003 Entry List". Retrieved 10 November 2021.
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