History 2000s

2002 Rally Argentina (Argentina)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2002 Rally Argentina (Argentina)

Date: May 16–19, 2002

Start Location: Villa Carlos Paz, Córdoba, Argentina

Finish Location: Villa Carlos Paz, Córdoba, Argentina

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

Competitive Stages: ~386 km

Surface: Gravel

The 2002 Rally Argentina featured a mix of fast plains, rocky climbs, and dramatic water crossings through the Sierras de Córdoba. Carlos Sainz executed a flawless rally, blending intelligent pacing and technical mastery to claim his 25th WRC win — and his last career victory — marking a special moment for both the Spaniard and the Ford team.

Route

El Condor – Copina: Rocky switchbacks at altitude with frequent fog and spectator-lined corners — a signature WRC stage.

Mina Clavero: Fast and flowing gravel with deep ruts and soft edges — pushed suspension travel to the limit.

Santa Rosa: Flat-out sections with ford crossings — water splash management and braking were critical.

Argentina’s stages challenged drivers with rugged surfaces, crests, and weather-induced unpredictability. Key sections included:

Conditions shifted throughout the weekend, with dry and dusty stages giving way to fog and damp patches, adding to the rally’s challenge.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner

Carlos Sainz & Luis Moya · Ford Focus WRC

2nd Place

Petter Solberg & Phil Mills · Subaru Impreza WRC

3rd Place

Marcus Grönholm & Timo Rautiainen · Peugeot 206 WRC

Sainz drove with total composure, balancing speed with mechanical sympathy. Solberg impressed with raw pace but couldn’t match the Spaniard’s consistency. Grönholm rounded out the podium with another steady points finish for Peugeot.

Navigation & Challenges

Altitude Performance: Engines lost power in thinner air — crews had to adjust braking points and acceleration techniques accordingly.
Surface Degradation: Repeated runs created deep ruts and sharp rock exposure — tire and suspension management was key.
Water Crossings: Drivers had to balance splash speed with engine preservation — too fast risked hydrolocking, too slow lost time.

Carlos Sainz’s victory in Argentina was a perfect combination of speed, endurance, and experience — and a fitting final win for one of rallying’s all-time greats.

← Previous Event 2002 Rally Catalunya – Costa Brava (Spain)

Back to Events Index

2002 Rally of New Caledonia (New Caledonia) Next Event →

Watch rallies anywhere — bypass region blocks with NordVPN.

Fast servers for HD streams Servers in 60+ countries 30-day money-back

Unblock coverage — Save up to 77% + 3 months free

Sponsored link. Using our partner links helps support Compromised Internals at no extra cost to you.