Finnish driver Marcus Grönholm has scored a dominant win on the
second round of this year's FIA World Rally Championship, the Swedish Rally. The 2000 world champion was rarely troubled after he built up a substantial lead yesterday, and he and navigator Timo Rautiainen were able to relax in today's closing few stages to move to the top of the championship standings. Their team-mates Harri Rovanperä and Risto Pietilainen also consolidated their second position, allowing Peugeot to celebrate a maximum score in the Manufacturers' championship.

Carlos Sainz held off Richard Burns in third though, preventing the French manufacturer from scoring a whitewash of the podium placings. The Swedish roads continued to thaw in the unseasonably warm climate today, making conditions extremely difficult with patches of gravel poking through the softening ice. Organisers were forced to cancel the day's second stage due to poor road conditions, and many drivers were concerned about how effectively their tyres would retain their studs on the gravel sections. Other mechanical problems arose for some crews, including Hyundai drivers Freddy Loix and Armin Schwarz. The German retired on a road section with transmission trouble, while Loix's brave drive with a broken left foot came to an end when his suspension failed in the day's second stage.

1 Gronholm Peugeot 206 WRC 3:07:28,6
2 Rovanpera Peugeot 206 WRC 3:08:53,1
3 Sainz Ford Focus WRC 3:09:54,4
4 Burns Peugeot 206 WRC 3:10:02,5
5 A.McRae Mitsubishi Lancer WRC 3:11:43,3
6 C.McRae Ford Focus WRC 3:11:43,6
7 Tuohino Ford Focus WRC 3:11:52,0
8 Kankkunen Hyundai Accent WRC 3:12:05,5
9 Lindholm Peugeot 206 WRC 3:12:25,2
10 Duval Ford Focus WRC 3:14:01,9

Marcus Gronholm is back!!!! is it me or does anyone got the same instinct that the Pug will win the constructor again this year?

Very likely....the Peugeot seems to be better every year....I think that'll be the case until Citroen get a hold of things....

attack of the french, eh?
I wonder what heppend to sub and mitsus? why suddenly these french comes out of nowhere and started winning. wonder if all those wins somehow soften the R&D of the Jap teams?

I think they Japs are just not making as big of a stride as the French.....I mean the Subaru is clearly a capable car, I mean Richard Burns did with the driver's WC with it, but the french is good at their team tactic and their car just better suited to a lot of tight stages....