Gronholm sets the pace

0 Comments | Sunday Herald, The, Nov 3, 2002

Marcus Gronholm may lack the superior sneer of Michael Schumacher but the Finn, who starts today's closing four stages of the Rally Australia with a 49.5 second lead ahead of Petter Solberg's Subaru, continues to dominate the World Rally Championship in the same way the German ruled F1 in 2002.

Gronholm, who won his second world title a fortnight ago with victory in New Zealand, has only to coax his Peugeot 206 through the closing stages to seal his fifth win of the year and further extend his 33-point lead in the championship.

"For sure, everything has gone well today," Gronholm said after returning to Perth for the overnight halt. And while Solberg realistically is dependent on technical gremlins slowing Gronholm's car, the Subaru driver will be forced to drive flat-out to keep the second Peugeot of Harri Rovanpera overtaking him for second place. The Finn, is just 22.1s adrift.

Colin McRae meanwhile crashed out of the event on yesterday's fourth stage at Muresk.

oDario Franchitti powered to the fourth-fastest time in pre- qualifying for today's penultimate round of the CART FedEx Championship at the California Speedway in Fontana.