Rally Catalunya 2001
LEG ONE
A new team entered the WRC as Citroen introduced its Xsara T4 World Rally Car at the first tarmac event of the year, Rally Catalunya. Citroen joins the series with a four event program this year, including the European tarmac events plus the Acropolis Rally in Greece. They plan to run a limited programme of seven rallies also in 2002 prior to taking part in the full series the following year. There has been some debate whether Citroen and Peugeot, both owned by the PSA Group will be allowed to compete fully with each other, but at least initially the word from the PSA Group top level executives was that there is not and won't be any universal policy within the group, and the marques will compete independently.
Citroen's drivers in Catalunya were Philippe Bugalski and Jesus Puras, both familiar from the wheel of the succesful front-wheel-drive Xsara kit car. Swede Thomas Radstrom will join the team in Greece. Prior to the Catalan event Spaniard Jesus Puras was accused of illegal reconnaissance, but the stewards didn't find proof for the accusations and allowed the local favourite to start the rally.
On stage one, Citroen immediately showed their speed on tarmac. Puras won the first WRC stage on which the new T4 appeared. He was followed closely by the three Peugeots of Didier Auriol, Marcus Gronholm and Gillers Panizzi. The conditions were quite different than in the previous event, with dry roads and summer-like temperatures.
Tommi Makinen was fastest on stage 2 with the somewhat ageing Mitsubishi. Puras was second fastest and kept the lead by 1.1 secs. He was again followed by the ever fast Peugeot trio. On SS 3 fastest was Citroen's Philippe Bugalski. The situation in the front was still very close, the top ten drivers were within 30 secs, although the Fords of Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz on positions 9 and 10, respectively, seemed not being able to challenge the front runners for some reason. Subaru's Petter Solberg became the first retiree within the works teams; his rally ended into a ditch.
Didier Auriol had found the speed he had been looking for all through the early season and posted the fastest time on SS 4. He also rose to second position overall, only 2.7 secs behind Puras. Marcus Gronholm, still a little unexperienced on tarmac, was going well in third place. He was maybe trying too hard, though, as on the following stage he hit a rock losing a rear wheel and having to retire from the event. SS 5 was again dominated by the Citroens, Bugalski was fastest with Puras close behind.
Prior to the start of stage 6 the misfortunes of Ford's Colin McRae continued as he ran into fuel pressure problems and had to call it a day. After four events, McRae still haven't opened his points account. On the final stage of the day, SS 6, Philippe Bugalski was again fastest and Jesus Puras second. Puras starts the second leg as the rally leader and Bugalski climbed to second place. Auriol, Panizzi and Makinen follow the Citroen duo, still in touch with the leaders. Freddy Loix in 6th place is already almost a minute behind. Ford and Subaru could not get their acts together; Carlos Sainz was struggling in 9th place and Subaru's Richard Burns dropped early on from the top ten with gearbox problems.
Situation after stage 6 of 18:
1. Jesus Puras (ESP) Citroen - 1.02.44,9
2. Philippe Bugalski (FRA) Citroen +8,7
3. Didier Auriol (FRA) Peugeot +11,2
4. Gilles Panizzi (FRA) Peugeot +18,4
5. Tommi Mäkinen (FIN) Mitsubishi +24,1
6. Freddy Loix (BEL) Mitsubishi +51,5
7. Salvador Canellas (ESP) Seat +1.03,9
8. Francois Delecour (FRA) Ford +1.07,9
9. Carlos Sainz (ESP) Ford +1.11,5
10. Markko Märtin (EST) Subaru +1.20,2
11. Bruno Thiry (BEL) Skoda +1.25,0
12. Armin Schwarz (GER) Skoda +1.36,4
13. Simon Jean-Joseph (FRA) Peugeot +1.39,8
14. Richard Burns (ENG) Subaru +1.51,3
15. Alister McRae (SCO) Hyundai +1.51,4
