# 2003 Rally Australia

The 2003 Rally Australia (formally the 16th Telstra Rally Australia) was the tenth round of the 2003 World Rally Championship. The race was held over four days between 4 September and 7 September 2003, and was based in Perth, Australia. Subaru's Petter Solberg won the race, his 3rd win in the World Rally Championship.

## Background
### Entry list

| No. | Driver | Co-driver | Entrant | Car | Tyre |
| World Rally Championship manufacturer entries ||||||
| 1 | Marcus Grönholm | Timo Rautiainen | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 206 WRC | M |
| 2 | Richard Burns | Robert Reid | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 206 WRC | M |
| 3 | Harri Rovanperä | Risto Pietiläinen | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 206 WRC | M |
| 4 | Markko Märtin | Michael Park | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | M |
| 5 | François Duval | Stéphane Prévot | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | M |
| 6 | Mikko Hirvonen | Jarmo Lehtinen | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Focus RS WRC '02 | M |
| 7 | Petter Solberg | Phil Mills | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | P |
| 8 | Tommi Mäkinen | Kaj Lindström | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | P |
| 10 | Armin Schwarz | Manfred Hiemer | Hyundai World Rally Team | Hyundai Accent WRC3 | M |
| 11 | Freddy Loix | Sven Smeets | Hyundai World Rally Team | Hyundai Accent WRC3 | M |
| 14 | Didier Auriol | Denis Giraudet | Škoda Motorsport | Škoda Fabia WRC | M |
| 15 | Toni Gardemeister | Paavo Lukander | Škoda Motorsport | Škoda Fabia WRC | M |
| 17 | Colin McRae | Derek Ringer | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | M |
| 18 | Sébastien Loeb | Daniel Elena | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | M |
| 19 | Carlos Sainz | Marc Martí | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | M |
| World Rally Championship entries ||||||
| 21 | Antony Warmbold | Gemma Price | AW Rally Team | Ford Focus RS WRC '02 | M |
| 24 | Balázs Benik | Bence Rácz | Balázs Benik | Ford Focus RS WRC '02 | — |
| 109 | Tolley Challis | Daryll Judd | Tolley Challis | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V | — |
| 118 | David Kendall | Jennifer Kendall-Stewart | David Kendall | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV | — |
| PWRC entries ||||||
| 51 | Karamjit Singh | Allen Oh | Petronas EON Racing Team | Proton Pert | — |
| 52 | Daniel Solà | Álex Romaní | Mauro Rally Tuning | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | P |
| 53 | Ramón Ferreyros | Javier Marín | Mauro Rally Tuning | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI | — |
| 54 | Toshihiro Arai | Tony Sircombe | Subaru Production Rally Team | Subaru Impreza WRX STI N10 | P |
| 55 | Martin Rowe | Trevor Agnew | David Sutton Cars Ltd | Subaru Impreza WRX STI N10 | — |
| 58 | Marcos Ligato | Rubén Garcia | Top Run SRL | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | P |
| 59 | Stefano Marrini | Massimo Agostinelli | Top Run SRL | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI | — |
| 60 | Niall McShea | Chris Patterson | Neil Allport Motorsports | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI | M |
| 64 | Joakim Roman | Ragnar Spjuth | Milbrooks World Rally Team | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI | — |
| 65 | Stig Blomqvist | Rob Scott | David Sutton Cars Ltd | Subaru Impreza WRX STI N10 | — |
| 72 | Constantin Aur | Adrian Berghea | Stohl Racing | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | — |
| Source: ||||||

### Itinerary

All dates and times are AWST (UTC+8).
| Date | Time | No. | Stage name | Distance |
| Leg 1 — 145.20 km |||||
| 4 September | 18:38 | SS1 | Perth City Super 1 | 2.45 km |
| 5 September | 08:19 | SS2 | Murray North 1 | 18.49 km |
| 5 September | 08:47 | SS3 | Murray South 1 | 20.12 km |
| 5 September | 09:45 | SS4 | Gobbys | 5.20 km |
| 5 September | 12:12 | SS5 | Stirling West | 15.89 km |
| 5 September | 12:44 | SS6 | Stirling Long | 34.99 km |
| 5 September | 14:17 | SS7 | Turner Hill | 7.00 km |
| 5 September | 16:43 | SS8 | Murray North 2 | 18.49 km |
| 5 September | 17:11 | SS9 | Murray South 2 | 20.12 km |
| 5 September | 20:32 | SS10 | Perth City Super 2 | 2.45 km |
| Leg 2 — 124.00 km |||||
| 6 September | 09:49 | SS11 | Beraking East | 8.88 km |
| 6 September | 10:12 | SS12 | Helena East 1 | 20.49 km |
| 6 September | 10:45 | SS13 | Helena West 1 | 12.60 km |
| 6 September | 11:03 | SS14 | Helena South 1 | 17.31 km |
| 6 September | 14:12 | SS15 | Beraking West | 9.42 km |
| 6 September | 14:35 | SS16 | Helena East 2 | 20.49 km |
| 6 September | 15:08 | SS17 | Helena West 2 | 12.60 km |
| 6 September | 15:26 | SS18 | Helena South 2 | 17.31 km |
| 6 September | 19:40 | SS19 | Perth City Super 3 | 2.45 km |
| 6 September | 19:50 | SS20 | Perth City Super 4 | 2.45 km |
| Leg 3 — 117.11 km |||||
| 7 September | 09:06 | SS21 | Bannister North | 24.81 km |
| 7 September | 09:44 | SS22 | Bannister South | 34.16 km |
| 7 September | 12:30 | SS23 | Bannister West | 24.69 km |
| 7 September | 13:08 | SS24 | Bannister Central | 33.45 km |

## Results
### Overall

| Pos. | No. | Driver | Co-driver | Team | Car | Time | Difference | Points |
| 1 | 7 | Petter Solberg | Phil Mills | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 3:32:07.1 | | 10 |
| 2 | 18 | Sébastien Loeb | Daniel Elena | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | 3:32:33.7 | +26.6 | 8 |
| 3 | 2 | Richard Burns | Robert Reid | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 206 WRC | 3:34:00.1 | +1:53.0 | 6 |
| 4 | 17 | Colin McRae | Derek Ringer | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | 3:34:37.8 | +2:30.7 | 5 |
| 5 | 19 | Carlos Sainz | Marc Martí | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | 3:34:44.3 | +2:37.2 | 4 |
| 6 | 8 | Tommi Mäkinen | Kaj Lindström | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 3:35:08.6 | +3:01.5 | 3 |
| 7 | 3 | Harri Rovanperä | Risto Pietiläinen | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 206 WRC | 3:36:11.0 | +4:03.9 | 2 |
| 8 | 11 | Freddy Loix | Sven Smeets | Hyundai World Rally Team | Hyundai Accent WRC3 | 3:39:07.8 | +7:00.7 | 1 |

### World Rally Cars
#### Classification

| Position | Position | No. | Driver | Co-driver | Entrant | Car | Time | Difference | Points |
| Event | Class | No. | Driver | Co-driver | Entrant | Car | Time | Difference | Points |
| 1 | 1 | 7 | Petter Solberg | Phil Mills | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 3:32:07.1 | | 10 |
| 2 | 2 | 18 | Sébastien Loeb | Daniel Elena | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | 3:32:33.7 | +26.6 | 8 |
| 3 | 3 | 2 | Richard Burns | Robert Reid | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 206 WRC | 3:34:00.1 | +1:53.0 | 6 |
| 4 | 4 | 17 | Colin McRae | Derek Ringer | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | 3:34:37.8 | +2:30.7 | 5 |
| 5 | 5 | 19 | Carlos Sainz | Marc Martí | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | 3:34:44.3 | +2:37.2 | 4 |
| 6 | 6 | 8 | Tommi Mäkinen | Kaj Lindström | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 3:35:08.6 | +3:01.5 | 3 |
| 7 | 7 | 3 | Harri Rovanperä | Risto Pietiläinen | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 206 WRC | 3:36:11.0 | +4:03.9 | 2 |
| 8 | 8 | 11 | Freddy Loix | Sven Smeets | Hyundai World Rally Team | Hyundai Accent WRC3 | 3:39:07.8 | +7:00.7 | 1 |
| 9 | 9 | 6 | Mikko Hirvonen | Jarmo Lehtinen | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Focus RS WRC '02 | 3:39:17.7 | +7:10.6 | 0 |
| 10 | 10 | 5 | François Duval | Stéphane Prévot | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 3:39:53.3 | +7:46.2 | 0 |
| 11 | 11 | 15 | Toni Gardemeister | Paavo Lukander | Škoda Motorsport | Škoda Fabia WRC | 3:42:17.3 | +10:10.2 | 0 |
| 12 | 12 | 14 | Didier Auriol | Denis Giraudet | Škoda Motorsport | Škoda Fabia WRC | 3:43:15.2 | +11:08.1 | 0 |
| 13 | 13 | 10 | Armin Schwarz | Manfred Hiemer | Hyundai World Rally Team | Hyundai Accent WRC3 | 3:46:21.5 | +14:14.4 | 0 |
| Retired SS21 | Retired SS21 | 4 | Markko Märtin | Michael Park | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | Excluded | Excluded | 0 |
| Retired SS10 | Retired SS10 | 1 | Marcus Grönholm | Timo Rautiainen | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 206 WRC | Withdrawn | Withdrawn | 0 |

#### Special stages

| Day | Stage | Stage name | Length | Winner | Car | Time | Class leaders |
| Leg 1 (4 Sep) | SS1 | Perth City Super 1 | 2.45 km | Petter Solberg | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 1:31.9 | Petter Solberg |
| Leg 1 (5 Sep) | SS2 | Murray North 1 | 18.49 km | Marcus Grönholm | Peugeot 206 WRC | 10:29.1 | Marcus Grönholm |
| Leg 1 (5 Sep) | SS3 | Murray South 1 | 20.12 km | Marcus Grönholm | Peugeot 206 WRC | 11:51.8 | Marcus Grönholm |
| Leg 1 (5 Sep) | SS4 | Gobbys | 5.20 km | Markko Märtin | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 2:29.6 | Marcus Grönholm |
| Leg 1 (5 Sep) | SS5 | Stirling West | 15.89 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 9:15.3 | Marcus Grönholm |
| Leg 1 (5 Sep) | SS6 | Stirling Long | 34.99 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 20:02.1 | Marcus Grönholm |
| Leg 1 (5 Sep) | SS7 | Turner Hill | 7.00 km | Petter Solberg | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 4:22.4 | Marcus Grönholm |
| Leg 1 (5 Sep) | SS8 | Murray North 2 | 18.49 km | Petter Solberg Sébastien Loeb | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 Citroën Xsara WRC | 10:14.4 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 1 (5 Sep) | SS9 | Murray South 2 | 20.12 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 11:30.0 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 1 (5 Sep) | SS10 | Perth City Super 2 | 2.45 km | François Duval | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 1:33.5 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 2 (6 Sep) | SS11 | Beraking East | 8.88 km | Petter Solberg | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 5:09.6 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 2 (6 Sep) | SS12 | Helena East 1 | 20.49 km | Petter Solberg | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 11:38.2 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 2 (6 Sep) | SS13 | Helena West 1 | 12.60 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 7:18.4 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 2 (6 Sep) | SS14 | Helena South 1 | 17.31 km | Petter Solberg | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 8:55.3 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 2 (6 Sep) | SS15 | Beraking West | 9.42 km | Petter Solberg | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 4:38.7 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 2 (6 Sep) | SS16 | Helena East 2 | 20.49 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 11:23.8 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 2 (6 Sep) | SS17 | Helena West 2 | 12.60 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 7:10.6 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 2 (6 Sep) | SS18 | Helena South 2 | 17.31 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 8:46.6 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 2 (6 Sep) | SS19 | Perth City Super 3 | 2.45 km | Markko Märtin | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 1:31.7 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 2 (6 Sep) | SS20 | Perth City Super 4 | 2.45 km | Markko Märtin | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 1:31.8 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 3 (7 Sep) | SS21 | Bannister North | 24.81 km | Petter Solberg | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 13:11.9 | Petter Solberg |
| Leg 3 (7 Sep) | SS22 | Bannister South | 34.16 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 16:00.1 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 3 (7 Sep) | SS23 | Bannister West | 24.69 km | Petter Solberg | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 12:22.6 | Petter Solberg |
| Leg 3 (7 Sep) | SS24 | Bannister Central | 33.45 km | Colin McRae | Citroën Xsara WRC | 18:10.0 | Petter Solberg |

#### Championship standings

| Pos. | Drivers' championships | Drivers' championships | Drivers' championships | Co-drivers' championships | Co-drivers' championships | Co-drivers' championships | Manufacturers' championships | Manufacturers' championships | Manufacturers' championships |
| Pos. | Move | Driver | Points | Move | Co-driver | Points | Move | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | | Richard Burns | 55 | | Robert Reid | 55 | | Marlboro Peugeot Total | 110 |
| 2 | 2 | Petter Solberg | 48 | 2 | Phil Mills | 48 | | Citroën Total WRT | 110 |
| 3 | 1 | Carlos Sainz | 48 | 1 | Marc Martí | 48 | 1 | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | 74 |
| 4 | 1 | Sébastien Loeb | 45 | 1 | Daniel Elena | 45 | 1 | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | 61 |
| 5 | 2 | Marcus Grönholm | 38 | 2 | Timo Rautiainen | 38 | | Škoda Motorsport | 20 |

### Production World Rally Championship
#### Classification

| Position | Position | No. | Driver | Co-driver | Entrant | Car | Time | Difference | Points |
| Event | Class | No. | Driver | Co-driver | Entrant | Car | Time | Difference | Points |
| 1 | 1 | 55 | Martin Rowe | Trevor Agnew | David Sutton Cars Ltd | Subaru Impreza WRX STI N10 | 3:54:17.1 | | 10 |
| 2 | 2 | 51 | Karamjit Singh | Allen Oh | Petronas EON Racing Team | Proton Pert | 3:56:14.1 | +1:57.0 | 8 |
| 3 | 3 | 60 | Niall McShea | Chris Patterson | Neil Allport Motorsports | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI | 3:56:56.1 | +2:39.0 | 6 |
| 4 | 4 | 65 | Stig Blomqvist | Rob Scott | David Sutton Cars Ltd | Subaru Impreza WRX STI N10 | 4:03:55.5 | +9:38.4 | 5 |
| 5 | 5 | 52 | Daniel Solà | Álex Romaní | Mauro Rally Tuning | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 4:04:37.6 | +10:20.5 | 4 |
| 6 | 6 | 64 | Joakim Roman | Ragnar Spjuth | Milbrooks World Rally Team | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI | 4:21:59.9 | +27:42.8 | 3 |
| Retired SS14 | Retired SS14 | 54 | Toshihiro Arai | Tony Sircombe | Subaru Production Rally Team | Subaru Impreza WRX STI N10 | Mechanical | Mechanical | 0 |
| Retired SS11 | Retired SS11 | 58 | Marcos Ligato | Rubén Garcia | Top Run SRL | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | Transmission | Transmission | 0 |
| Retired SS11 | Retired SS11 | 59 | Stefano Marrini | Massimo Agostinelli | Top Run SRL | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI | Excluded | Excluded | 0 |
| Retired SS8 | Retired SS8 | 72 | Constantin Aur | Adrian Berghea | Stohl Racing | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | Mechanical | Mechanical | 0 |
| Retired SS4 | Retired SS4 | 53 | Ramón Ferreyros | Javier Marín | Mauro Rally Tuning | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI | Mechanical | Mechanical | 0 |

#### Special stages

| Day | Stage | Stage name | Length | Winner | Car | Time | Class leaders |
| Leg 1 (4 Sep) | SS1 | Perth City Super 1 | 2.45 km | Marcos Ligato | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 1:39.9 | Marcos Ligato |
| Leg 1 (5 Sep) | SS2 | Murray North 1 | 18.49 km | Marcos Ligato | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 11:25.8 | Marcos Ligato |
| Leg 1 (5 Sep) | SS3 | Murray South 1 | 20.12 km | Marcos Ligato | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 12:57.7 | Marcos Ligato |
| Leg 1 (5 Sep) | SS4 | Gobbys | 5.20 km | Marcos Ligato | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 2:45.2 | Marcos Ligato |
| Leg 1 (5 Sep) | SS5 | Stirling West | 15.89 km | Marcos Ligato | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 10:06.0 | Marcos Ligato |
| Leg 1 (5 Sep) | SS6 | Stirling Long | 34.99 km | Martin Rowe | Subaru Impreza WRX STI N10 | 21:54.6 | Marcos Ligato |
| Leg 1 (5 Sep) | SS7 | Turner Hill | 7.00 km | Karamjit Singh | Proton Pert | 4:51.7 | Marcos Ligato |
| Leg 1 (5 Sep) | SS8 | Murray North 2 | 18.49 km | Niall McShea | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI | 11:12.7 | Martin Rowe |
| Leg 1 (5 Sep) | SS9 | Murray South 2 | 20.12 km | Toshihiro Arai | Subaru Impreza WRX STI N10 | 12:52.0 | Martin Rowe |
| Leg 1 (5 Sep) | SS10 | Perth City Super 2 | 2.45 km | Stig Blomqvist | Subaru Impreza WRX STI N10 | 1:40.7 | Martin Rowe |
| Leg 2 (6 Sep) | SS11 | Beraking East | 8.88 km | Toshihiro Arai | Subaru Impreza WRX STI N10 | 5:40.1 | Martin Rowe |
| Leg 2 (6 Sep) | SS12 | Helena East 1 | 20.49 km | Martin Rowe | Subaru Impreza WRX STI N10 | 12:43.4 | Martin Rowe |
| Leg 2 (6 Sep) | SS13 | Helena West 1 | 12.60 km | Toshihiro Arai | Subaru Impreza WRX STI N10 | 8:00.5 | Martin Rowe |
| Leg 2 (6 Sep) | SS14 | Helena South 1 | 17.31 km | Martin Rowe | Subaru Impreza WRX STI N10 | 9:52.6 | Martin Rowe |
| Leg 2 (6 Sep) | SS15 | Beraking West | 9.42 km | Daniel Solà | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 5:05.1 | Martin Rowe |
| Leg 2 (6 Sep) | SS16 | Helena East 2 | 20.49 km | Daniel Solà | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 12:30.9 | Martin Rowe |
| Leg 2 (6 Sep) | SS17 | Helena West 2 | 12.60 km | Daniel Solà | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 7:53.2 | Martin Rowe |
| Leg 2 (6 Sep) | SS18 | Helena South 2 | 17.31 km | Daniel Solà | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII | 9:40.5 | Martin Rowe |
| Leg 2 (6 Sep) | SS19 | Perth City Super 3 | 2.45 km | Stig Blomqvist | Subaru Impreza WRX STI N10 | 1:39.1 | Martin Rowe |
| Leg 2 (6 Sep) | SS20 | Perth City Super 4 | 2.45 km | Stig Blomqvist | Subaru Impreza WRX STI N10 | 1:38.7 | Martin Rowe |
| Leg 3 (7 Sep) | SS21 | Bannister North | 24.81 km | Martin Rowe | Subaru Impreza WRX STI N10 | 14:36.6 | Martin Rowe |
| Leg 3 (7 Sep) | SS22 | Bannister South | 34.16 km | Martin Rowe | Subaru Impreza WRX STI N10 | 17:36.1 | Martin Rowe |
| Leg 3 (7 Sep) | SS23 | Bannister West | 24.69 km | Niall McShea | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI | 13:48.8 | Martin Rowe |
| Leg 3 (7 Sep) | SS24 | Bannister Central | 33.45 km | Niall McShea | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI | 20:07.5 | Martin Rowe |

#### Championship standings

| Pos. | Drivers' championships | Drivers' championships | Drivers' championships |
| Pos. | Move | Driver | Points |
| 1 | 1 | Martin Rowe | 37 |
| 2 | 1 | Toshihiro Arai | 30 |
| 3 | | Karamjit Singh | 30 |
| 4 | | Stig Blomqvist | 26 |
| 5 | | Daniel Solà | 22 |