Rally Portugal 2000
LEG THREE
There were only three stages and 60 stage kilometres left for the final day of Rally Portugal but the situation was exciting. Marcus Gronholm was in the lead by 14.6 seconds but Subaru's Richard Burns had been faster almost all through the rally. On first of the day's stages, SS21, Burns started his attack again and cut Gronholm's margin down to 2.1 seconds. Behind the leading duo the positions seemed quite settled and there were no major fights.
On SS 22 Burns took the lead but only by 1.7 secs, so it was down to the final stage, and it was Richard Burns that was fastest on the decisive stage and took the win of Rally Portugal by 6.5 seconds. The new Subaru was quick from the word go and Burns certainly deserved his second victory in a row. Peugeot's Marcus Gronholm finished second after putting on a great fight; the farmer from southern Finland is this year truly joining the league of established rally stars.
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| The spectartors were this year controlled well and stayed out of the road as Richard Burns sweeps by (Photo by SWRT) |
Carlos Sainz took a secure third place in the rally, there was nothing much he could do. Harri Rovanpera's 4th spot is a notable performance with a privately entered and slightly outdated Toyota. Almost all drivers had some problems and there were lots of retirees. Francois Delecour had some problems, too, but finished reliably 5th. Young Estonian driver Markko Martin again had a very good result finishing 6th among the works drivers with a Toyota similar to Rovanpera's. Martin might very well be the first Baltic driver to drive in a works team in the not-so-distant future. Skoda's Armin Schwarz tried, unsuccesfully, to catch Freddy Loix in 7th place during the final day. Both scored manufacturer points, though, as the Toyotas finishing in front of them are not competing in the series.
Results:
1. Richard Burns (ENG) Subaru - 4.34.00,0
2. Marcus Grönholm (FIN) Peugeot +6,5
3. Carlos Sainz (ESP) Ford +2.09,2
4. Harri Rovanperä (FIN) Toyota +3.18,2
5. Francois Delecour (FRA) Peugeot +4.06,3
6. Markko Märtin (EST) Toyota +6.11,6
7. Freddy Loix (BEL) Mitsubishi +7.28,9
8. Armin Schwarz (GER) Skoda +7.47,4
9. Toni Gardemeister (FIN) Seat +8.24,2
10. Didier Auriol (FRA) Seat +12.38,0
11. Adruzilio Lopes (POR) Peugeot +15.01,1
