History 2000s

2001 Rally Australia (Australia)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2001 Rally Australia (Australia)

Date: November 1–4, 2001

Start Location: Perth, Western Australia

Finish Location: Perth, Western Australia

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

Competitive Stages: ~381 km

Surface: Gravel

Rally Australia’s trademark high-speed gravel routes and narrow tree-lined roads returned in 2001, offering a true driver’s challenge. Marcus Grönholm delivered a clinical and confident performance, combining pace with surgical precision to score his fourth win of the season — keeping Peugeot in the championship hunt and asserting his dominance on fast-flowing gravel.

Route

Ballingup: Wide and flowing gravel — rewarded confidence and aggressive pacenotes.
Wellington Dam: Technical tree-lined roads with shifting light conditions and soft shoulders.
Mundaring Super Special: A head-to-head crowd pleaser with parallel tracks and jumps under stadium lights.

Held in the eucalyptus forests around Perth, the rally featured some of the fastest average speeds of the WRC season. Key stages included:

Dry spring weather created dusty but grippy conditions, placing emphasis on clean lines, early braking, and effective road sweeping strategy.

🏆 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 built a lead early and managed it expertly through the high-speed tests. Burns maintained pressure throughout, while Sainz delivered another reliable podium to aid Ford’s manufacturer standing.

Navigation & Challenges

  • High-Speed Risk: Narrow tracks at 180+ km/h through trees left zero margin — even small mistakes could be catastrophic.
  • Dust Trails: Starting position and road cleaning were crucial — Grönholm capitalized on optimal placement and clean air.
  • Stage Consistency: The rally rewarded rhythm and repetition — making co-driver timing and mental focus essential to maintain pace.

Grönholm’s win in Australia reaffirmed his supremacy on fast gravel and kept his title hopes alive heading into the season finale, capping a near-flawless drive through one of the most flowing rallies of the calendar.

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