# 2003 Rallye Sanremo

The 2003 Rallye Sanremo (formally the 45th Rallye Sanremo - Rallye d'Italia) was the eleventh round of the 2003 World Rally Championship. The race was held over three days between 3 October and 5 October 2003, and was based in Sanremo, Italy. Citroen's Sébastien Loeb won the race, his 4th 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 | Gilles Panizzi | Hervé Panizzi | 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 |
| 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 |
| 20 | Philippe Bugalski | Jean-Paul Chiaroni | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | M |
| World Rally Championship entries ||||||
| 22 | Roman Kresta | Jan Tománek | Bozian Racing | Peugeot 206 WRC | M |
| 23 | Cédric Robert | Gérald Bedon | Equipe de France FFSA | Peugeot 206 WRC | M |
| 32 | Riccardo Errani | Stefano Casadio | Riccardo Errani | Škoda Octavia WRC | M |
| JWRC entries ||||||
| 51 | Mirco Baldacci | Giovanni Bernacchini | Purity Auto | Fiat Punto S1600 | M |
| 52 | Daniel Carlsson | Matthias Andersson | Suzuki Sport | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | M |
| 54 | Kosti Katajamäki | Jani Laaksonen | Volkswagen Racing | Volkswagen Polo S1600 | M |
| 57 | Dimitar Iliev | Yanaki Yanakiev | Auto Sport Italia | Peugeot 206 S1600 | M |
| 58 | Marcos Ligato | Rubén Garcia | Top Run SRL | Fiat Punto S1600 | M |
| 61 | Brice Tirabassi | Jacques-Julien Renucci | Renault Sport | Renault Clio S1600 | M |
| 63 | Massimo Ceccato | Mitia Dotta | Top Run SRL | Fiat Punto S1600 | M |
| 64 | Ville-Pertti Teuronen | Harri Kaapro | Suzuki Sport | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | M |
| 65 | Abdo Feghali | Joseph Matar | Astra Racing | Ford Puma S1600 | M |
| 67 | Alessandro Broccoli | Simona Girelli | Sab Motorsport | Renault Clio S1600 | M |
| 69 | Salvador Cañellas Jr. | Xavier Amigó | Suzuki Sport | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | M |
| 70 | Guy Wilks | Phil Pugh | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Puma S1600 | M |
| 71 | Urmo Aava | Kuldar Sikk | Suzuki Sport | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | M |
| 73 | Krum Donchev | Ruman Manolov | Auto Sport Italia | Peugeot 206 S1600 | M |
| 74 | Kris Meeke | Chris Patterson | Opel Motorsport | Opel Corsa S1600 | M |
| 76 | Luca Cecchettini | Marco Muzzarelli | Top Run SRL | Fiat Punto S1600 | M |
| Source: ||||||

### Itinerary

All dates and times are CEST (UTC+2).
| Date | Time | No. | Stage name | Distance |
| Leg 1 — 142.14 km |||||
| 3 October | 08:38 | SS1 | Perinaldo 1 | 12.40 km |
| 3 October | 09:26 | SS2 | Ceppo 1 | 36.42 km |
| 3 October | 12:25 | SS3 | Cosio 1 | 19.19 km |
| 3 October | 13:17 | SS4 | San Bartolomeo 1 | 25.31 km |
| 3 October | 15:54 | SS5 | Perinaldo 2 | 12.40 km |
| 3 October | 16:42 | SS6 | Ceppo 2 | 36.42 km |
| Leg 2 — 149.10 km |||||
| 4 October | 09:20 | SS7 | Teglia 1 | 52.30 km |
| 4 October | 12:26 | SS8 | Cosio 2 | 19.19 km |
| 4 October | 13:18 | SS9 | San Bartolomeo 2 | 25.31 km |
| 4 October | 15:52 | SS10 | Teglia 2 | 52.30 km |
| Leg 3 — 96.12 km |||||
| 5 October | 09:12 | SS11 | Vignai 1 | 26.54 km |
| 5 October | 09:54 | SS12 | Colle d'Oggia 1 | 21.52 km |
| 5 October | 12:28 | SS13 | Vignai 2 | 26.54 km |
| 5 October | 13:10 | SS14 | Colle d'Oggia 2 | 21.52 km |

## Results
### Overall

| Pos. | No. | Driver | Co-driver | Team | Car | Time | Difference | Points |
| 1 | 18 | Sébastien Loeb | Daniel Elena | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | 4:16:33.7 | | 10 |
| 2 | 3 | Gilles Panizzi | Hervé Panizzi | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 206 WRC | 4:17:02.0 | +28.3 | 8 |
| 3 | 4 | Markko Märtin | Michael Park | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 4:17:28.3 | +54.6 | 6 |
| 4 | 19 | Carlos Sainz | Marc Martí | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | 4:19:06.9 | +2:33.2 | 5 |
| 5 | 5 | François Duval | Stéphane Prévot | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 4:20:32.6 | +3:58.9 | 4 |
| 6 | 17 | Colin McRae | Derek Ringer | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | 4:20:57.5 | +4:23.8 | 3 |
| 7 | 2 | Richard Burns | Robert Reid | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 206 WRC | 4:23:43.2 | +7:09.5 | 2 |
| 8 | 20 | Philippe Bugalski | Jean-Paul Chiaroni | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | 4:23:46.3 | +7:12.6 | 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 | 18 | Sébastien Loeb | Daniel Elena | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | 4:16:33.7 | | 10 |
| 2 | 2 | 3 | Gilles Panizzi | Hervé Panizzi | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 206 WRC | 4:17:02.0 | +28.3 | 8 |
| 3 | 3 | 4 | Markko Märtin | Michael Park | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 4:17:28.3 | +54.6 | 6 |
| 4 | 4 | 19 | Carlos Sainz | Marc Martí | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | 4:19:06.9 | +2:33.2 | 5 |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | François Duval | Stéphane Prévot | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 4:20:32.6 | +3:58.9 | 4 |
| 6 | 6 | 17 | Colin McRae | Derek Ringer | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | 4:20:57.5 | +4:23.8 | 3 |
| 7 | 7 | 2 | Richard Burns | Robert Reid | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 206 WRC | 4:23:43.2 | +7:09.5 | 2 |
| 8 | 8 | 20 | Philippe Bugalski | Jean-Paul Chiaroni | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | 4:23:46.3 | +7:12.6 | 1 |
| 10 | 9 | 8 | Tommi Mäkinen | Kaj Lindström | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 4:24:05.9 | +7:32.2 | 0 |
| 12 | 10 | 14 | Didier Auriol | Denis Giraudet | Škoda Motorsport | Škoda Fabia WRC | 4:31:22.8 | +14:49.1 | 0 |
| Retired SS14 | Retired SS14 | 1 | Marcus Grönholm | Timo Rautiainen | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 206 WRC | Lost wheel | Lost wheel | 0 |
| Retired SS7 | Retired SS7 | 7 | Petter Solberg | Phil Mills | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | No fuel | No fuel | 0 |
| Retired SS4 | Retired SS4 | 6 | Mikko Hirvonen | Jarmo Lehtinen | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Focus RS WRC '02 | Timing belt | Timing belt | 0 |
| Retired SS2 | Retired SS2 | 15 | Toni Gardemeister | Paavo Lukander | Škoda Motorsport | Škoda Fabia WRC | Accident | Accident | 0 |

#### Special stages

| Day | Stage | Stage name | Length | Winner | Car | Time | Class leaders |
| Leg 1 (3 Oct) | SS1 | Perinaldo 1 | 12.40 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 7:56.2 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 1 (3 Oct) | SS2 | Ceppo 1 | 36.42 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 24:05.5 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 1 (3 Oct) | SS3 | Cosio 1 | 19.19 km | Markko Märtin | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 11:56.3 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 1 (3 Oct) | SS4 | San Bartolomeo 1 | 25.31 km | Markko Märtin | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 14:47.2 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 1 (3 Oct) | SS5 | Perinaldo 2 | 12.40 km | Markko Märtin | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 7:45.6 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 1 (3 Oct) | SS6 | Ceppo 2 | 36.42 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 23:38.7 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 2 (4 Oct) | SS7 | Teglia 1 | 52.30 km | Markko Märtin | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 35:01.7 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 2 (4 Oct) | SS8 | Cosio 2 | 19.19 km | Markko Märtin | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 11:51.3 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 2 (4 Oct) | SS9 | San Bartolomeo 2 | 25.31 km | Markko Märtin | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 14:44.2 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 2 (4 Oct) | SS10 | Teglia 2 | 52.30 km | Markko Märtin | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 34:48.6 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 3 (5 Oct) | SS11 | Vignai 1 | 26.54 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 18:00.7 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 3 (5 Oct) | SS12 | Colle d'Oggia 1 | 21.52 km | Markko Märtin | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 13:58.7 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 3 (5 Oct) | SS13 | Vignai 2 | 26.54 km | Gilles Panizzi | Peugeot 206 WRC | 19:42.6 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 3 (5 Oct) | SS14 | Colle d'Oggia 2 | 21.52 km | Gilles Panizzi | Peugeot 206 WRC | 15:59.6 | Sébastien Loeb |

#### 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 | 57 | | Robert Reid | 57 | 1 | Citroën Total WRT | 125 |
| 2 | 2 | Sébastien Loeb | 55 | 2 | Daniel Elena | 55 | 1 | Marlboro Peugeot Total | 121 |
| 3 | | Carlos Sainz | 53 | | Marc Martí | 53 | | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | 76 |
| 4 | 2 | Petter Solberg | 48 | 2 | Phil Mills | 48 | | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | 71 |
| 5 | 1 | Markko Märtin | 43 | 1 | Michael Park | 43 | | Škoda Motorsport | 21 |

### Junior 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 |
| 16 | 1 | 51 | Mirco Baldacci | Giovanni Bernacchini | Purity Auto | Fiat Punto S1600 | 4:43:22.6 | | 10 |
| 18 | 2 | 69 | Salvador Cañellas Jr. | Xavier Amigó | Suzuki Sport | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | 4:48:44.4 | +5:21.8 | 8 |
| 21 | 3 | 57 | Dimitar Iliev | Yanaki Yanakiev | Auto Sport Italia | Peugeot 206 S1600 | 4:50:02.1 | +6:39.5 | 6 |
| 23 | 4 | 64 | Ville-Pertti Teuronen | Harri Kaapro | Suzuki Sport | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | 4:52:01.8 | +8:39.2 | 5 |
| 25 | 5 | 76 | Luca Cecchettini | Marco Muzzarelli | Top Run SRL | Fiat Punto S1600 | 4:55:07.8 | +11:45.2 | 4 |
| 28 | 6 | 70 | Guy Wilks | Phil Pugh | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Puma S1600 | 5:00:33.0 | +17:10.4 | 3 |
| 32 | 7 | 65 | Abdo Feghali | Joseph Matar | Astra Racing | Ford Puma S1600 | 5:02:40.6 | +19:18.0 | 2 |
| Retired SS11 | Retired SS11 | 54 | Kosti Katajamäki | Jani Laaksonen | Volkswagen Racing | Volkswagen Polo S1600 | Driveshaft | Driveshaft | 0 |
| Retired SS11 | Retired SS11 | 74 | Kris Meeke | Chris Patterson | Opel Motorsport | Opel Corsa S1600 | Accident | Accident | 0 |
| Retired SS10 | Retired SS10 | 63 | Massimo Ceccato | Mitia Dotta | Top Run SRL | Fiat Punto S1600 | Accident | Accident | 0 |
| Retired SS10 | Retired SS10 | 67 | Alessandro Broccoli | Simona Girelli | Sab Motorsport | Renault Clio S1600 | Accident | Accident | 0 |
| Retired SS7 | Retired SS7 | 52 | Daniel Carlsson | Matthias Andersson | Suzuki Sport | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | Accident | Accident | 0 |
| Retired SS7 | Retired SS7 | 58 | Marcos Ligato | Rubén Garcia | Top Run SRL | Fiat Punto S1600 | Accident | Accident | 0 |
| Retired SS7 | Retired SS7 | 61 | Brice Tirabassi | Jacques-Julien Renucci | Renault Sport | Renault Clio S1600 | Electrical | Electrical | 0 |
| Retired SS6 | Retired SS6 | 71 | Urmo Aava | Kuldar Sikk | Suzuki Sport | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | Driveshaft | Driveshaft | 0 |
| Retired SS2 | Retired SS2 | 73 | Krum Donchev | Ruman Manolov | Auto Sport Italia | Peugeot 206 S1600 | Accident | Accident | 0 |

#### Special stages

| Day | Stage | Stage name | Length | Winner | Car | Time | Class leaders |
| Leg 1 (3 Oct) | SS1 | Perinaldo 1 | 12.40 km | Brice Tirabassi | Renault Clio S1600 | 8:42.1 | Brice Tirabassi |
| Leg 1 (3 Oct) | SS2 | Ceppo 1 | 36.42 km | Mirco Baldacci | Fiat Punto S1600 | 26:34.0 | Mirco Baldacci |
| Leg 1 (3 Oct) | SS3 | Cosio 1 | 19.19 km | Brice Tirabassi | Renault Clio S1600 | 13:19.9 | Mirco Baldacci |
| Leg 1 (3 Oct) | SS4 | San Bartolomeo 1 | 25.31 km | Mirco Baldacci | Fiat Punto S1600 | 16:20.1 | Mirco Baldacci |
| Leg 1 (3 Oct) | SS5 | Perinaldo 2 | 12.40 km | Mirco Baldacci | Fiat Punto S1600 | 8:37.2 | Mirco Baldacci |
| Leg 1 (3 Oct) | SS6 | Ceppo 2 | 36.42 km | Mirco Baldacci | Fiat Punto S1600 | 26:49.6 | Mirco Baldacci |
| Leg 2 (4 Oct) | SS7 | Teglia 1 | 52.30 km | Massimo Ceccato | Fiat Punto S1600 | 39:06.4 | Mirco Baldacci |
| Leg 2 (4 Oct) | SS8 | Cosio 2 | 19.19 km | Salvador Cañellas Jr. | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | 13:15.8 | Mirco Baldacci |
| Leg 2 (4 Oct) | SS9 | San Bartolomeo 2 | 25.31 km | Mirco Baldacci | Fiat Punto S1600 | 16:22.0 | Mirco Baldacci |
| Leg 2 (4 Oct) | SS10 | Teglia 2 | 52.30 km | Mirco Baldacci | Fiat Punto S1600 | 38:54.6 | Mirco Baldacci |
| Leg 3 (5 Oct) | SS11 | Vignai 1 | 26.54 km | Notional stage time | Notional stage time | Notional stage time | | Mirco Baldacci |
| Leg 3 (5 Oct) | SS12 | Colle d'Oggia 1 | 21.52 km | Notional stage time | Notional stage time | Notional stage time | | Mirco Baldacci |
| Leg 3 (5 Oct) | SS13 | Vignai 2 | 26.54 km | Salvador Cañellas Jr. | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | 21:45.6 | Mirco Baldacci |
| Leg 3 (5 Oct) | SS14 | Colle d'Oggia 2 | 21.52 km | Abdo Feghali | Ford Puma S1600 | 17:21.3 | Mirco Baldacci |

#### Championship standings

| Pos. | Drivers' championships | Drivers' championships | Drivers' championships |
| Pos. | Move | Driver | Points |
| 1 | | Brice Tirabassi | 28 |
| 2 | 1 | Salvador Cañellas Jr. | 25 |
| 3 | 1 | Daniel Carlsson | 18 |
| 4 | 1 | Guy Wilks | 18 |
| 5 | 1 | Urmo Aava | 16 |