History 2000s

2003 Rally Catalunya (Spain)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2003 Rally Catalunya (Spain)

Date: October 24–26, 2003

Start Location: Lloret de Mar, Spain

Finish Location: Lloret de Mar, Spain

Total Distance: ~1,100 km (estimated full route)

Competitive Stages: 354.60 km

Surface: Asphalt

The 2003 Rally Catalunya offered flowing tarmac roads through the hills of northeastern Spain, and Sébastien Loeb once again showcased his asphalt mastery. Delivering a clean and controlled performance from start to finish, Loeb strengthened Citroën’s grip on the manufacturers’ title and added another notch to his growing legacy.

Route

El Montmell: A wide, high-speed tarmac run with elevation changes and smooth transitions.
La Riba: Narrower in parts with blind crests — required absolute faith in pace notes and corner entry precision.
Querol: Classic stage with tight hairpins followed by long-radius sweepers — tire management critical by the end.

Catalunya’s stages are known for their fast, wide, circuit-like character — smooth surfaces, long corners, and flowing rhythm. Notable stages included:

Conditions remained dry and cool, ideal for full slick tires and stable grip, allowing drivers to push the limits of braking and acceleration on every stage.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Sébastien Loeb & Daniel Elena · Citroën Xsara WRC
2nd Place
Carlos Sainz & Marc Martí · Citroën Xsara WRC
3rd Place
Markko Märtin & Michael Park · Ford Focus RS WRC

Loeb led from the first day and never looked back, while Sainz delivered a strong home rally result for Citroën. Märtin rounded out the podium with a consistent performance, adding to his growing status as a top-tier contender on all surfaces.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Corner Commitment: High-speed sections demanded absolute confidence and early pacenote delivery.
  • Tire Degradation: Long stages on aggressive tarmac required careful tire strategy to avoid losing grip in final kilometers.
  • Setup Precision: Teams had to fine-tune ride height and differential settings to maximize traction on Catalunya’s wide roads.

Loeb’s Catalunya win further affirmed his tarmac dominance and played a crucial role in Citroën’s path to both the 2003 manufacturers’ title and his eventual rise to world champion status.

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