irishcar.com

10 June 2002: The next stop for the Manufacturers' World Championship leaders Peugeot is the forthcoming Acropolis Rally. Leg One is this Friday 14 June. Leg 2 the 15th and Leg 3 the 16th.

The Acropolis Rally is one of the four events (along with the Safari, Argentina and the Monte Carlo) it has yet to win with the 206 WRC. The punishing nature of the calendar's 7th round is poised to be a challenge for the French team and for the 2002 Evolution 206 WRC which will make its debut in Greece in the hands of Marcus Grönholm, Richard Burns and Harri Rovanperä.

After Cyprus and Argentina and before July's visit to the Safari Rally in Kenya, the Acropolis Rally is the third in a sequence of four consecutive events renowned for being particularly tough on mechanicals. Not only does the Greek round take place on rough roads but the traditional searing heat also seriously complicates engine cooling. But the 206 WRC has already demonstrated its ability to win on tough terrain following its victory in April's Cyprus Rally and the French machine was again in dominant form over the similarly uncompromising stages of Argentina. However, the post-finish disqualifications of the cars of Marcus Grönholm and Richard Burns, respectively 1st and 2nd after the final test, failed to allow the team to capitalise on an otherwise excellent overall performance.

Despite its blank score-sheet in Argentina, Peugeot remains on top of the Manufacturers' World Championship with a 27-point lead over its closest chaser thanks to its four consecutive one-two finishes in Sweden, Spain (where Peugeot even monopolised the top three spots), Corsica and Cyprus. The situation at the top of the Drivers' points table is equally enviable since Marcus Grönholm, Gilles Panizzi and Richard Burns (equal with Carlos Sainz) currently fill the top three places. A little less fortunate so far than his teammates, Harri Rovanperä is currently 8th. Yet like his team, the Finn is extremely motivated going into the Greek round!

"After all we went through in Argentina, our team is more determined than ever," confirms Peugeot Sport Director Corrado Provera. "Our hopes of figuring well in Greece have been boosted by our recent highly encouraging tests there with the 2002 Evolution 206 WRC. Of course, nothing can replace actually competing on the event itself, but the latest evolution of the 206 WRC promises to be even stronger than its predecessor which finished 1st, 2nd and 4th in Cyprus."

While all three members of Peugeot's line-up for the Acropolis Rally are proven gravel experts, only Richard Burns has previously won in Greece. That was in 1998: "It's a rally I enjoy and I'm feeling particularly confident this year. After Cyprus and Argentina, my understanding of the 206 WRC has moved on a step, thanks notably to our highly constructive collaboration with our engineer Jean-Charles Odon. In addition to that, I was impressed by the 2002 Evolution 206 WRC during the tests we carried out in Greece. We drove over some very rough roads yet we didn't break a thing. I have never felt so optimistic before the start of a rally since I joined Peugeot."

Marcus Grönholm has started the Acropolis Rally on three occasions, the first of which was with Peugeot in 1999. However, he has never succeeded in reaching the finish. Fourth time lucky? One thing is certain though; the current leader of the 2002 Drivers' World Championship has been in outstanding form since the start of the season.

Harri Rovanperä, who has also competed three times previously in Greece (1998, 1999 and 2001), is the driver responsible for the 206 WRC's best result on the Acropolis Rally to date (3rd o/a in 2001). "With the exception of some badly cut up stages, last year's route allowed you to attack without having to worry about breaking everything. I suppose it will be the same again this year," says the Finn who was busy winning the recent Rally of Mexico while his teammates where on testing duty with the 2002 Evolution car in Greece.