History Event 2000s

2001 Rally of Great Britain (United Kingdom)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2001 Rally of Great Britain (United Kingdom)

Date: November 22–25, 2001

Start Location: Cardiff, Wales

Finish Location: Cardiff, Wales

Total Distance: ~1,250 km (estimated full route)

Competitive Stages: ~379 km

Surface: Gravel (wet/muddy)

The 2001 Rally of Great Britain brought the WRC season to a dramatic close in the damp, fog-covered forests of Wales. Marcus Grönholm drove with clinical precision on treacherous surfaces to take victory, his fifth of the year, helping Peugeot clinch the manufacturers' championship in an event defined by thick fog, deep ruts, and mental endurance.

Route

Myherin: Fast and flowing with long straights and hidden crests, deep fog made navigation particularly treacherous.
Sweet Lamb: A fan-favorite arena stage featuring water splashes and technical rhythm sections.
Dyfi: Slippery, cambered corners and tree-lined ditches, one of the most technically demanding of the weekend.

The event featured legendary forest stages across mid and south Wales, with rain and mud making traction and visibility a constant battle. Notable stages included:

Weather throughout the rally was cold and rainy, resulting in deep mud ruts, standing water, and limited daylight, a quintessential British rally test.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Marcus Grönholm & Timo Rautiainen · Peugeot 206 WRC
2nd Place
Richard Burns & Robert Reid · Subaru Impreza S7 WRC
3rd Place
Carlos Sainz & Luis Moya · Ford Focus WRC

Grönholm delivered a balanced, mistake-free drive while title rival Burns pushed hard but fell short. Sainz’s consistency secured a critical third place for Ford, but it wasn’t enough to deny Peugeot the championship.

Car Highlights

  • Peugeot 206 WRC: Remarkably agile in low-grip conditions, quick rotation and strong traction gave Grönholm an edge on slick surfaces.
  • Subaru Impreza S7 WRC: Extremely stable under braking and acceleration, Burns used its balanced grip to keep pressure on Grönholm throughout.
  • Ford Focus WRC: A proven all-weather machine, consistent but lacked the sharpness to match Peugeot’s pace in these conditions.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Fog and Rain: Visibility dropped to just meters in some stages, pace note clarity and timing were absolutely crucial.
  • Mud Ruts: Deep and unpredictable, wheel placement had to be perfect or risk spinning, aquaplaning, or puncturing.
  • Season Pressure: With titles on the line, maintaining mental composure under slippery and deceptive conditions was key to success.

Grönholm’s dominant win in Wales capped a spectacular season and highlighted his evolution from gravel specialist to all-surface champion, helping Peugeot secure one of the most hard-fought manufacturer titles in WRC history.

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