05-17-2004, 10:34 PM
This news just dropped early this morning! This could be a enormous bombshell in the WRC standings.
May 17, 2004 --
Marcus Gronholmâs first win for the Peugeot 307 WRC is under threat after event Cyprus Rally organisers found a potential problem with the water pump on the engines of both Peugeot and Citroenâs works entries in post-event scrutineering.
The 307s of event winner Gronholm and fifth-placed team-mate Harri Rovanpera and the Citroen Xsaras of second-placed Sebastian Loeb and fourth-placed Carlos Sainz will be subject to further checks on Wednesday 19 May, at which point the rally result will be confirmed.
Until then the result will remain provisional. If the four cars are excluded from the event, then Fordâs Markko Martin will be handed the win and a potential 19-point lead in the driversâ championship standings. The Subarus of reigning world champion Petter Solberg and team-mate Mikko Hirvonen would also be promoted to the podium.
Both the Peugeot 307 and Citroen Xsara WRCs use the same basic engine, the XU7, and World Rally Championship homologation rules require that the standard water pump is used. Former world champion Colin McRaeâs Ford Focus was excluded from third place on the 1999 Monte Carlo rally, the carâs debut, after a similar problem was found.
Stay Posted For More On This Developing Story--
May 17, 2004 --
Marcus Gronholmâs first win for the Peugeot 307 WRC is under threat after event Cyprus Rally organisers found a potential problem with the water pump on the engines of both Peugeot and Citroenâs works entries in post-event scrutineering.
The 307s of event winner Gronholm and fifth-placed team-mate Harri Rovanpera and the Citroen Xsaras of second-placed Sebastian Loeb and fourth-placed Carlos Sainz will be subject to further checks on Wednesday 19 May, at which point the rally result will be confirmed.
Until then the result will remain provisional. If the four cars are excluded from the event, then Fordâs Markko Martin will be handed the win and a potential 19-point lead in the driversâ championship standings. The Subarus of reigning world champion Petter Solberg and team-mate Mikko Hirvonen would also be promoted to the podium.
Both the Peugeot 307 and Citroen Xsara WRCs use the same basic engine, the XU7, and World Rally Championship homologation rules require that the standard water pump is used. Former world champion Colin McRaeâs Ford Focus was excluded from third place on the 1999 Monte Carlo rally, the carâs debut, after a similar problem was found.
Stay Posted For More On This Developing Story--