Fight for rally title
LIMASSOL – Peugeot’s Marcus Gronholm expects the rally world title to boil down to a battle of champions between himself and British teammate Richard Burns. «It looks like Richard will be the biggest threat as he is consistent and can win rallies,» said the Finn after beating reigning world champion Burns into second place in Cyprus on Sunday. Gronholm was world champion in 2000 with Peugeot while Burns switched from Subaru at the end of last season and is still learning the ropes in his new French team. Gronholm has an 11-point lead in the championship over France’s Gilles Panizzi, another Peugeot driver who specializes in races on asphalt, and is 12 points clear of Burns in third place overall. Sunday’s success was Peugeot’s fourth successive one-two finish and Burns admitted that Gronholm would be the man to beat as the pair gear up for a prolonged battle on gravel over the next few months. Seven of the nine remaining events will be contested on the surface which is a favorite of both drivers and Burns said he was capable of improvement after completing his first gravel rally for Peugeot. But he had no illusions about the size of the challenge. «Marcus is very strong and consistent and he makes no mistakes at all,» said the Englishman. «Speed and reliability are difficult things to achieve together and it’s everybody’s aim to beat Marcus. «It is possible but this is my first gravel rally (for Peugeot) so give me a chance.» Burns heads for Greece next week to gain more experience on gravel in his new 206 WRC. The speed at which Burns learns the Peugeot’s secrets will be decisive for his ability to mount a real challenge to Gronholm, now in his third full season in the 206. «It is difficult for the outside world to understand but I don’t know so much about the set-up of the car,» he said. «Until I know the car inside out, I’m always going to be learning compared to Marcus.»
