History 2000s

2001 Rally Catalunya – Costa Brava (Spain)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2001 Rally Catalunya – Costa Brava (Spain)

Date: March 23–25, 2001

Start Location: Lloret de Mar, Spain

Finish Location: Lloret de Mar, Spain

Total Distance: ~1,200 km (estimated full route)

Competitive Stages: ~395 km

Surface: Asphalt

The 2001 Rally Catalunya brought pristine asphalt and springtime sun to the WRC calendar. Didier Auriol, the 1994 World Champion, used his vast experience and smooth tarmac style to full effect, delivering a commanding win for Peugeot on the fast, sweeping Spanish mountain roads. It marked his final WRC career victory — a masterclass of precision and patience.

Route

Els Àngels: Long, flowing corners and elevation changes made it a rhythm-critical challenge.
La Trona: Technical downhill braking zones combined with sweeping high-speed entries.
Santa Pellaia: A mix of fast straights and tight twisty portions — excellent for testing car balance and grip.

Based in the Catalonian hills, the stages were wide, fast, and circuit-like in character — demanding clean lines and full commitment. Notable stages included:

Dry and consistent weather throughout allowed crews to focus purely on speed, tire strategy, and pace execution without weather disruptions.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Didier Auriol & Denis Giraudet · Peugeot 206 WRC
2nd Place
Richard Burns & Robert Reid · Subaru Impreza S7 WRC
3rd Place
Carlos Sainz & Luis Moya · Ford Focus WRC

Auriol set the pace early and maintained it with controlled aggression. Burns pushed hard late in the event but couldn’t overcome the time deficit, while Sainz gave Spanish fans a podium to cheer for on home ground.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Line Discipline: Maintaining racing lines at high speed was critical — errors in corner exit could ruin an entire split.
  • Brake Management: Long downhill sectors required careful modulation to avoid fade and time loss late in stages.
  • Pace Note Precision: With few visual markers and very fast sections, co-driver timing had to be flawless.

Didier Auriol’s win in Catalunya was a vintage display of technical tarmac driving, and a fitting final triumph for one of rallying’s most elegant and respected champions.

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