7 October 2002: Peugeot 206 WRCs have grabbed first and second on the Rally New Zealand, the 12th round of the FIA World Rally Championship, which finished on the outskirts of Auckland yesterday afternoon.

Marcus Gronholm and Timo Rautiainen secured their fourth win of the year and subject to confirmation, that was enough to ensure a second world championship crown for the Finn. Harri Rovanpera and Voitto Silander finished second, meanwhile, to secure yet another maximum points haul for Peugeot in the manufacturers championship. The result was more than enough for the French marque to secure a remarkable third successive makes' title.

Gronholm and Rovanpera both had comfortable positions at the start of Sunday's eight stages, held to the south of Auckland. As such, neither took any real risks in the remaining tests as Gronholm romped to victory by almost four minutes. Rovanpera lost time with a late hydraulic problem, but he still claimed the runners-up spot, more than half a minute clear of Tommi Makinen. Another Peugeot 206, driven by Rallye Sanremo winner Gilles Panizzi, finished in an excellent seventh overall on the Frenchman's first attempt at the tricky New Zealand stages.

With both world titles now assured, the Peugeot team can now approach the final two rounds of the year in a more relaxed mood, but all of its regular drivers will be aiming to end the 2002 season on a high. Outgoing world champion Richard Burns will be particularly determined to bounce back from his disappointment here in New Zealand and take his debut victory for the Peugeot team &Mac246; his first chance to achieve that will come on the Rally Australia on October 31-November 3.