In addition to being the World Rally Championship's traditional curtain-raiser, the Monte Carlo Rally is also one of the calendar's most prestigious events, and one all the drivers and teams dream of winning. Peugeot goes to the Principality with a 'new look' 307 WRC for the car's second year, as well as a new driver line-up led by Marcus Grönholm, who counts two Drivers' crowns to his name at the wheel of the 206 WRC, and new recruit Markko Märtin. Peugeot's objective for the Monaco-based round couldn't be clearer: to get its season off to a flying start in its bid to retrieve the world crown that has escaped it for the past two years.
Before turning this important page of its current period in rallying, a spell marked by five world titles (three Manufacturers', two Drivers'), the entire Peugeot squad is determined to do everything in its power to add a further crown to that list. With a field of six factory teams, however, they know the challenge they face is an ambitious one and that the 2005 campaign promises to be an exciting, closely fought affair. It will also be a very busy year since sixteen rounds are scheduled between January and November, a record figure reached last season when visits to Japan and Mexico were added to the already demanding calendar.
The Monte Carlo Rally will be the first chance to see the 'new look' 307 WRC in action following the car's evolution as a result of regulation changes introduced for 2005. The principal visible difference concerns its wider arches made necessary by an increase in its track dimensions (see interview with Michel Nandan attached to this release). On the technical front, Peugeot's partnership with Pirelli is also new. The Italian firm has extensive experience of the WRC. The most recent tests proved very positive in both performance and reliability terms. Since its debut on the 2004 Monte Carlo Rally, the 307 WRC has won once (Rally Finland in the middle of last season) and has undergone extensive development work.
As far as drivers are concerned, the Vélizy-based team will be able to count on the services of two world class, complementary all-rounders. Marcus Grönholm's loyalty with Peugeot has to date been rewarded by two world titles (2000, 2002) and sixteen WRC wins. A cornerstone of the French squad, Marcus is a potential winner whatever the type of surface, although he has yet to get his record off the mark on asphalt. "I believe we have a number of trump cards in our hands to succeed this year," says the Finn. "Our most recent test work with the 307 WRC was particularly encouraging. The first encounter of the season – the Monte Carlo – probably won't be the easiest of course. It's still very much a fickle event when the weather and stage conditions are mixed. It's never much fun driving over snow or ice on slicks, although I have gained a lot of experience and confidence in this sort of situation." Marcus Grönholm finished the 2004 Monte Carlo Rally in 4th position overall after leading early on thanks to two fastest stage times.
Markko Märtin's record includes five WRC wins; two in 2003 (Acropolis, Finland) and three in 2004 (Mexico, Corsica and Spain). The Estonian youngster is quick over all types of terrain and should form a fine partnership with Marcus Grönholm. "On paper, the Monte Carlo Rally should suit me. I finished 2nd last year and I have become increasingly competitive on asphalt in the past two years. That said, the Monte is still the most unpredictable round of the championship and my task will be made especially difficult by the fact that the team, car and tyres will all be new to me. So I have to be realistic, even though my first tests were extremely positive. The Peugeot 307 WRC seems very quick on asphalt and I am just keen to get on with the championship."
Interview: Michel Nandan : "The 'new look' 307 WRC''
Homologation of the latest specification 307 WRC successfully went through on January 1st 2005 which means Peugeot's driver line-up will be able to profit from the team's new challenger in Monte Carlo. The French team's Design and Race Team Technical Manager Michel Nandan talks about the 2005 car…
What is the reason for this new homologation? "Amongst the WRC regulation changes introduced in 2005, the maximum permitted width for cars exceeding 4.2 metres in length has been increased from 1,770 mm to 1,800 mm. An increase of 15 mm either side may not seem that much at first sight yet it can make a significant improvement to handling. We have made the most of this opportunity to increase the track dimensions of the 307 WRC, and this in turn has led to a number of knock-on modifications…"
What sort of modifications? "The front and rear wings are bigger and slightly more flared in order to house the wider tracks. We have also profited from the need to adapt the front and rear bumpers as a function of the new dimensions to revise the air intake, with a view to optimising airflow to the engine, as well as the rear wing which forms part of an overall upgrade of the aerodynamic package These are the main modifications and they are easily visible from the outside."
The 2005 FIA regulations also represent a certain saving on the equipment and technical fronts… "Indeed, active anti-roll bars have been outlawed. As a consequence we have reverted to a more conventional system which, although clearly less effective in absolute terms, still functions very well. We have had to adapt, but everyone will be starting the year on an equal footing. Another key change is the fact that engines will now have to cover two rallies. Following the endurance testing we have organised and last year's full-scale dress rehearsal, I don't see this being a problem. Not so long ago, rallies such as the Safari were very long and the engines held. It's a measure that's both logical and positive. The number of chassis we will be able to use in the course of the season has also been restricted, although not excessively. If our drivers don't put them through too many crash tests, we should still be able to do a good job!"
Since the last round of the 2004 season, in Australia, the team has clearly been very active... "That's right. We began by optimising the strength of the transmission as well as that of other minor components with a view to enhancing the car's reliability, and that necessitated the homologation of certain new parts. After that, we covered a lot of kilometres with the latest specification car in preparation for the Monte Carlo and Swedish Rallies. The drivers seem very pleased with the latest tests. Marcus Grönholm has been able to gauge the difference with the 2004 car, while Markko Märtin benefits from a yardstick compared with the Focus he drove last year. Nothing can replace actual competition of course, but it's all very encouraging. Our work isn't over however. We completed a major endurance test on gravel in October, but we will have to wait for the new season to get underway before we begin set-up and outright performance tests on the loose with the 2005-specification 307 WRC."
And of course the 307 WRCs will be running on Pirelli tyres in 2005… "Although there isn't a world of difference with the products we ran previously, it has been necessary to adapt. In any case, we will be starting from a fresh base compared with 2004 since the cost saving measures introduced by the FIA in agreement with the manufacturers have led to a significant reduction in the choice and quantities of tyres available for each round. For example, we will have a single pattern in Sweden and we will only run 18" rims on the Monte Carlo Rally, even if it snows. We accordingly focused on testing on the surfaces we will encounter early in the season and we are still on a learning curve as far as certain ranges are concerned, notably for gravel, but I think we will be ready by the time the championship moves on to the loose."
3 questions to ….. Corrado Provera (Peugeot Sport team principal)
What is your target for the coming season? "This is the time for new year wishes, and ours is to win back the world title that has eluded us these past two years and to end our spell in rallying in style before moving on to other things in 2006."
The team has good knowledge of the 307 WRC now but there are other unknown factors you will have to take into consideration: tyres, drivers, technical evolutions… "With Markko Martin coming in to reinforce our line-up alongside Marcus Grönholm, we have two of the best drivers of the moment, so we can but be optimistic as far as their potential goes. As far as the car is concerned, it will have wider track dimensions which will improve its handling and, above all, while the 307 WRC proved competitive – if too fragile – last year, we ended the 2004 season and completed our recent test programme without any problems on the reliability front, so that's very reassuring. Last but not least, it's clear that Pirelli tyres are competitive over a full season. It's up to us to get the best out of them as quickly as possible, and we seem to be well on the way to that…"
Is beating your Monte Carlo jinx another one of your dreams? "Obviously. Because of all the unknowns just mentioned, to win what will be the car's debut outing in its 2005 specification won't be easy against such battle-hardened opposition, but we will certainly give it our very best effort. We have the means and the firm intention to do well…"
CV GRONHOLM/RAUTIAINEN
MARCUS GRÖNHOLM Born: February 5th 1968 in Espoo, Finland. Married, three children. Drivers' world rally champion 2ooo & 2oo2
1987: Rally debut. 1989: Scandinavian Rally Champion. 1991 to 1997: Finnish Group N and Group A Rally Champion. 1995: 2nd, Rally Finland. 1996: 4th, Rally Finland. 7th, Swedish Rally. 1997: 4th, Rally Argentina. 5th, RAC. 8th, Swedish Rally. 1998: 5th, Swedish Rally. 7th, Rally Finland. Finnish Rally Champion. 4wins. 1999: World Rally Championship with Peugeot Sport (206 WRC) 4th, Rally Finland. 5th, Rally of Australia. 8th, Rally Sanremo. 2ooo: World Rally Championship with Peugeot Sport (206 WRC) 1st, Swedish Rally, Rally New Zealand, Finland Rally and Rally of Australia. 2nd, Portugal Rally, Rally of Argentina and Rally of Great Britain. 4th, Sanremo Rally. 5th, Rally of Spain and Tour of Corsica. Drivers' World Rally Champion 2000. 2oo1: World Rally Championship with Peugeot Sport (206 WRC) 1st, Rally of Finland, Rally Australia and Rally of Great Britain. 3rd, Rally of Portugal. 5th, Rally New Zealand. 4th overall – World Rally championship. 2oo2: World Rally Championship with Peugeot Sport (206 WRC). 1st, Swedish Rally, Cyprus Rally, Rally of Finland, Rally New Zealand and Rally Australia. 2nd, Rally of France, Acropolis Rally and Rally of Italy. 3rd, Rally Deutschland. 4th, Rally of Catalunya. 5th, Monte Carlo Rally. Drivers' World Rally Champion 2002. 2oo3: World Rally Championship with Peugeot Sport (206 WRC). 1st, Swedish Rally, Rally New Zealand and Rally Argentina. 2nd, Rally Deutschland. 4th, Rally of France. 6th, Rally of Spain. 6th overall – World Rally championship. 2oo4: World Rally Championship with Peugeot Sport (307 WRC). 1st, Rally of Finland. 2nd, Swedish Rally, Rally New Zealand, Rally of Turkey and Rally of Spain. 4th, Monte Carlo Rally, Rally Japan and Rally of France. 6th, Rally Mexico. 7th, Rally of Italy. 5th overall – World Rally championship. 2oo5: World Rally Championship with Peugeot Sport (307 WRC).
TIMO RAUTIAINEN Born November 13th 1964 in Espoo, Finland. Married, two children.
1988: Rally debut. 199o-91: Co-driver to Marcus Grönholm. 1995: Return to rallying with Marcus Grönholm. 2ooo & 2oo2: Co-drivers' World Rally Champion with Marcus Grönholm
CV MARTIN/PARK
MRKKO MARTIN Born November 10th 1975 in Tartu (Estonia). Single.
1993 : Rally debut. 1997 : World Rally Championship debut (Toyota). 1999 : 8th, Swedish Rally (Ford Escort). 5th, Rally of Greece (Toyota). 2000 : 6th, Cyprus Rally. 7th, Rally of Portugal. (Toyota). 2001 : Subaru official driver. 5th, Rally of Finland. 6th, Rally of France. 2002 : Ford official driver. 2nd, Rally of Great Britain. 9th overall – World Rally Championship. 2003 : Ford official driver. 1st, Rally of Greece and Rally of Finland. 3rd, Rally Sanremo and Rally Catalunya. 4th, Monte Carlo Rally and Swedish Rally 5th overall – World Rally Championship. 2004 : Ford official driver. 1st, Mexico Rally, Rally of France and Rally Catalunya. 2nd, Monte Carlo Rally, Cyprus Rally and Rally of Finland. 3rd, Rally New Zealand, Rally Japan and Rally of Great Britain. 3rd overall – World Rally Championship. 2oo5: World Rally Championship with Peugeot Sport (307 WRC).
MICKAEL PARK Born June 22nd 1966 in Hereford (UK). Married, two children.
Markko Martin's co-driver since 2000
