# 2003 Wales Rally GB

The 2003 Wales Rally GB (formally the 59th Wales Rally GB) was the fourteenth round of the 2003 World Rally Championship. The race was held over four days between 6 November and 9 November 2003, and was based in Cardiff, Great Britain. Subaru's Petter Solberg won the race, his 5th 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 | Freddy Loix | Sven Smeets | 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 |
| 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 ||||||
| 20 | Jari-Matti Latvala | Miikka Anttila | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Focus RS WRC '01 | M |
| 21 | Gilles Panizzi | Hervé Panizzi | Bozian Racing | Peugeot 206 WRC | M |
| 22 | Roman Kresta | Jan Tománek | Bozian Racing | Peugeot 206 WRC | M |
| 23 | Antony Warmbold | Gemma Price | AW Rally Team | Ford Focus RS WRC '02 | M |
| 24 | Juuso Pykälistö | Risto Mannisenmäki | Bozian Racing | Peugeot 206 WRC | M |
| 25 | Daniel Solà | Álex Romaní | Citroën Sport | Citroën Xsara WRC | M |
| 26 | Jan Kopecký | Filip Schovánek | Škoda Matador Team | Škoda Octavia WRC | M |
| 27 | Steve Perez | Jonty Bolsover | Steve Perez | Ford Focus RS WRC '02 | — |
| 33 | Alistair Ginley | Rory Kennedy | Alistair Ginley | Ford Focus RS WRC '01 | — |
| 34 | Manfred Stohl | Ilka Minor | Stohl Racing | Peugeot 206 WRC | P |
| 35 | Tobias Johansson | Per Carlsson | Tobias Johansson | Toyota Corolla WRC | — |
| 37 | Andreas Eriksson | Pecka Svensson | Andreas Eriksson | Ford Focus RS WRC '02 | — |
| 38 | Tapio Laukkanen | Harri Kaapro | Tapio Laukkanen | Subaru Impreza S7 WRC '01 | — |
| 103 | Eamonn Boland | Francis Regan | Eamonn Boland | Subaru Impreza S7 WRC '01 | — |
| 104 | Julian Reynolds | Ieuan Thomas | Julian Reynolds | Subaru Impreza 555 | — |
| 105 | Jozef Béreš Jr. | Petr Starý | Jozef Béreš Jr. | Toyota Corolla WRC | — |
| 106 | Jimmy McRae | Pauline Gullick | Jimmy McRae | Subaru Impreza 555 | — |
| 107 | Pentti Airikkala | Nigel Gardner | Pentti Airikkala | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI | — |
| 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 |
| 61 | Brice Tirabassi | Jacques-Julien Renucci | Renault Sport | Renault Clio S1600 | M |
| 62 | Oscar Svedlund | Björn Nilsson | Volkswagen Racing | Volkswagen Polo S1600 | M |
| 63 | Massimo Ceccato | Mitia Dotta | Top Run SRL | Fiat Punto S1600 | M |
| 64 | Ville-Pertti Teuronen | Mikko Markkula | Suzuki Sport | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | M |
| 65 | Abdo Feghali | Joseph Matar | Astra Racing | Ford Puma S1600 | M |
| 67 | Alessandro Broccoli | Giovanni Agnese | Sab Motorsport | Opel Corsa 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 |
| 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 GMT (UTC±0).
| Date | Time | No. | Stage name | Distance |
| Leg 1 — 164.24 km |||||
| 6 November | 19:30 | SS1 | Cardiff Super Special 1 | 2.45 km |
| 7 November | 07:51 | SS2 | Brechfa | 23.12 km |
| 7 November | 08:30 | SS3 | Trawscoed | 27.97 km |
| 7 November | 11:20 | SS4 | Rheola 1 | 32.58 km |
| 7 November | 12:38 | SS5 | Resolfen 1 | 43.09 km |
| 7 November | 15:48 | SS6 | Rheola 2 | 32.58 km |
| 7 November | 19:32 | SS7 | Cardiff Super Special 2 | 2.45 km |
| Leg 2 — 138.71 km |||||
| 8 November | 07:47 | SS8 | Crychan 1 | 13.05 km |
| 8 November | 08:14 | SS9 | Halfway 1 | 18.53 km |
| 8 November | 10:27 | SS10 | Crychan 2 | 13.05 km |
| 8 November | 10:54 | SS11 | Halfway 2 | 18.53 km |
| 8 November | 13:13 | SS12 | Margam Forest | 17.37 km |
| 8 November | 13:46 | SS13 | Margam Park 1 | 12.64 km |
| 8 November | 15:32 | SS14 | Resolfen 2 | 43.09 km |
| 8 November | 19:38 | SS15 | Cardiff Super Special 3 | 2.45 km |
| Leg 3 — 73.86 km |||||
| 9 November | 07:48 | SS16 | Rhondda 1 | 30.61 km |
| 9 November | 11:02 | SS17 | Rhondda 2 | 30.61 km |
| 9 November | 13:04 | SS18 | Margam Park 2 | 12.64 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 | 3:28:58.1 | | 10 |
| 2 | 18 | Sébastien Loeb | Daniel Elena | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | 3:29:41.7 | +43.6 | 8 |
| 3 | 8 | Tommi Mäkinen | Kaj Lindström | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 3:31:56.9 | +2:58.8 | 6 |
| 4 | 17 | Colin McRae | Derek Ringer | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | 3:34:26.2 | +5:28.1 | 5 |
| 5 | 5 | François Duval | Stéphane Prévot | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 3:36:14.2 | +7:16.1 | 4 |
| 6 | 2 | Freddy Loix | Sven Smeets | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 206 WRC | 3:37:04.6 | +8:06.5 | 3 |
| 7 | 34 | Manfred Stohl | Ilka Minor | Stohl Racing | Peugeot 206 WRC | 3:37:46.5 | +8:48.4 | 2 |
| 8 | 22 | Roman Kresta | Jan Tománek | Bozian Racing | Peugeot 206 WRC | 3:38:00.7 | +9:02.6 | 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 | 7 | Petter Solberg | Phil Mills | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 3:28:58.1 | | 10 |
| 2 | 2 | 18 | Sébastien Loeb | Daniel Elena | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | 3:29:41.7 | +43.6 | 8 |
| 3 | 3 | 8 | Tommi Mäkinen | Kaj Lindström | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 3:31:56.9 | +2:58.8 | 6 |
| 4 | 4 | 17 | Colin McRae | Derek Ringer | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | 3:34:26.2 | +5:28.1 | 5 |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | François Duval | Stéphane Prévot | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | 3:36:14.2 | +7:16.1 | 4 |
| 6 | 6 | 2 | Freddy Loix | Sven Smeets | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 206 WRC | 3:37:04.6 | +8:06.5 | 3 |
| 11 | 7 | 14 | Didier Auriol | Denis Giraudet | Škoda Motorsport | Škoda Fabia WRC | 3:44:44.0 | +15:45.9 | 0 |
| Retired SS16 | Retired SS16 | 3 | Harri Rovanperä | Risto Pietiläinen | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 206 WRC | Transmission | Transmission | 0 |
| Retired SS16 | Retired SS16 | 15 | Toni Gardemeister | Paavo Lukander | Škoda Motorsport | Škoda Fabia WRC | Accident | Accident | 0 |
| Retired SS4 | Retired SS4 | 1 | Marcus Grönholm | Timo Rautiainen | Marlboro Peugeot Total | Peugeot 206 WRC | Lost wheel | Lost wheel | 0 |
| Retired SS4 | Retired SS4 | 4 | Markko Märtin | Michael Park | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Focus RS WRC '03 | Engine | Engine | 0 |
| Retired SS3 | Retired SS3 | 6 | Mikko Hirvonen | Jarmo Lehtinen | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Focus RS WRC '02 | Accident | Accident | 0 |
| Retired SS3 | Retired SS3 | 19 | Carlos Sainz | Marc Martí | Citroën Total WRT | Citroën Xsara WRC | Accident | Accident | 0 |

#### Special stages

| Day | Stage | Stage name | Length | Winner | Car | Time | Class leaders |
| Leg 1 (6 Nov) | SS1 | Cardiff Super Special 1 | 2.45 km | Petter Solberg | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 2:08.7 | Petter Solberg |
| Leg 1 (7 Nov) | SS2 | Brechfa | 23.12 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 13:19.6 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 1 (7 Nov) | SS3 | Trawscoed | 27.97 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 16:23.4 | Sébastien Loeb |
| Leg 1 (7 Nov) | SS4 | Rheola 1 | 32.58 km | Petter Solberg | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 17:58.6 | Petter Solberg |
| Leg 1 (7 Nov) | SS5 | Resolfen 1 | 43.09 km | Petter Solberg | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 22:40.9 | Petter Solberg |
| Leg 1 (7 Nov) | SS6 | Rheola 2 | 32.58 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 17:50.9 | Petter Solberg |
| Leg 1 (7 Nov) | SS7 | Cardiff Super Special 2 | 2.45 km | Petter Solberg | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 2:06.4 | Petter Solberg |
| Leg 2 (8 Nov) | SS8 | Crychan 1 | 13.05 km | Petter Solberg | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 7:10.6 | Petter Solberg |
| Leg 2 (8 Nov) | SS9 | Halfway 1 | 18.53 km | Petter Solberg | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 10:15.7 | Petter Solberg |
| Leg 2 (8 Nov) | SS10 | Crychan 2 | 13.05 km | Petter Solberg | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 7:08.0 | Petter Solberg |
| Leg 2 (8 Nov) | SS11 | Halfway 2 | 18.53 km | Petter Solberg | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 10:11.0 | Petter Solberg |
| Leg 2 (8 Nov) | SS12 | Margam Forest | 17.37 km | Petter Solberg | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 9:57.7 | Petter Solberg |
| Leg 2 (8 Nov) | SS13 | Margam Park 1 | 12.64 km | Petter Solberg | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 7:08.8 | Petter Solberg |
| Leg 2 (8 Nov) | SS14 | Resolfen 2 | 43.09 km | Petter Solberg | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 22:21.3 | Petter Solberg |
| Leg 2 (8 Nov) | SS15 | Cardiff Super Special 3 | 2.45 km | Petter Solberg | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 2:05.1 | Petter Solberg |
| Leg 3 (9 Nov) | SS16 | Rhondda 1 | 30.61 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 16:25.5 | Petter Solberg |
| Leg 3 (9 Nov) | SS17 | Rhondda 2 | 30.61 km | Sébastien Loeb | Citroën Xsara WRC | 16:21.1 | Petter Solberg |
| Leg 3 (9 Nov) | SS18 | Margam Park 2 | 12.64 km | Petter Solberg | Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 | 7:07.4 | Petter Solberg |

#### Championship standings

* Bold text indicates 2003 World Champions.
| 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 | 2 | Petter Solberg | 72 | 2 | Phil Mills | 72 | | Citroën Total WRT | 160 |
| 2 | 1 | Sébastien Loeb | 71 | 1 | Daniel Elena | 71 | | Marlboro Peugeot Total | 145 |
| 3 | 1 | Carlos Sainz | 63 | 1 | Marc Martí | 63 | | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | 109 |
| 4 | | Richard Burns | 58 | | Robert Reid | 58 | | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | 93 |
| 5 | | Markko Märtin | 49 | | Michael Park | 49 | | Škoda Motorsport | 23 |

### 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 |
| 14 | 1 | 52 | Daniel Carlsson | Matthias Andersson | Suzuki Sport | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | 3:57:29.8 | | 10 |
| 15 | 2 | 51 | Mirco Baldacci | Giovanni Bernacchini | Purity Auto | Fiat Punto S1600 | 3:59:04.2 | +1:34.4 | 8 |
| 23 | 3 | 64 | Ville-Pertti Teuronen | Mikko Markkula | Suzuki Sport | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | 4:04:51.6 | +7:21.8 | 6 |
| 28 | 4 | 69 | Salvador Cañellas Jr. | Xavier Amigó | Suzuki Sport | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | 4:14:50.3 | +17:20.5 | 5 |
| 29 | 5 | 67 | Alessandro Broccoli | Giovanni Agnese | Sab Motorsport | Opel Corsa S1600 | 4:20:58.2 | +23:28.4 | 4 |
| 30 | 6 | 63 | Massimo Ceccato | Mitia Dotta | Top Run SRL | Fiat Punto S1600 | 4:24:25.8 | +26:56.0 | 3 |
| Retired SS17 | Retired SS17 | 71 | Urmo Aava | Kuldar Sikk | Suzuki Sport | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | Driveshaft | Driveshaft | 0 |
| Retired SS17 | Retired SS17 | 74 | Kris Meeke | Chris Patterson | Opel Motorsport | Opel Corsa S1600 | Accident | Accident | 0 |
| Retired SS16 | Retired SS16 | 62 | Oscar Svedlund | Björn Nilsson | Volkswagen Racing | Volkswagen Polo S1600 | Mechanical | Mechanical | 0 |
| Retired SS15 | Retired SS15 | 76 | Luca Cecchettini | Marco Muzzarelli | Top Run SRL | Fiat Punto S1600 | Engine | Engine | 0 |
| Retired SS13 | Retired SS13 | 54 | Kosti Katajamäki | Jani Laaksonen | Volkswagen Racing | Volkswagen Polo S1600 | Steering | Steering | 0 |
| Retired SS11 | Retired SS11 | 61 | Brice Tirabassi | Jacques-Julien Renucci | Renault Sport | Renault Clio S1600 | Engine | Engine | 0 |
| Retired SS5 | Retired SS5 | 65 | Abdo Feghali | Joseph Matar | Astra Racing | Ford Puma S1600 | Gearbox | Gearbox | 0 |
| Retired SS5 | Retired SS5 | 70 | Guy Wilks | Phil Pugh | Ford Motor Co. Ltd. | Ford Puma S1600 | Water pump | Water pump | 0 |

#### Special stages

| Day | Stage | Stage name | Length | Winner | Car | Time | Class leaders |
| Leg 1 (6 Nov) | SS1 | Cardiff Super Special 1 | 2.45 km | Mirco Baldacci Kris Meeke | Fiat Punto S1600 Opel Corsa S1600 | 2:25.0 | Mirco Baldacci Kris Meeke |
| Leg 1 (7 Nov) | SS2 | Brechfa | 23.12 km | Kris Meeke | Opel Corsa S1600 | 15:45.5 | Kris Meeke |
| Leg 1 (7 Nov) | SS3 | Trawscoed | 27.97 km | Daniel Carlsson | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | 19:11.2 | Kris Meeke |
| Leg 1 (7 Nov) | SS4 | Rheola 1 | 32.58 km | Daniel Carlsson | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | 20:28.2 | Kris Meeke |
| Leg 1 (7 Nov) | SS5 | Resolfen 1 | 43.09 km | Daniel Carlsson | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | 25:48.7 | Daniel Carlsson |
| Leg 1 (7 Nov) | SS6 | Rheola 2 | 32.58 km | Brice Tirabassi | Renault Clio S1600 | 20:09.7 | Daniel Carlsson |
| Leg 1 (7 Nov) | SS7 | Cardiff Super Special 2 | 2.45 km | Mirco Baldacci | Fiat Punto S1600 | 2:21.4 | Daniel Carlsson |
| Leg 2 (8 Nov) | SS8 | Crychan 1 | 13.05 km | Daniel Carlsson | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | 8:06.1 | Daniel Carlsson |
| Leg 2 (8 Nov) | SS9 | Halfway 1 | 18.53 km | Daniel Carlsson | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | 11:26.0 | Daniel Carlsson |
| Leg 2 (8 Nov) | SS10 | Crychan 2 | 13.05 km | Daniel Carlsson | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | 8:02.6 | Daniel Carlsson |
| Leg 2 (8 Nov) | SS11 | Halfway 2 | 18.53 km | Kris Meeke | Opel Corsa S1600 | 11:18.6 | Daniel Carlsson |
| Leg 2 (8 Nov) | SS12 | Margam Forest | 17.37 km | Daniel Carlsson | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | 11:13.7 | Daniel Carlsson |
| Leg 2 (8 Nov) | SS13 | Margam Park 1 | 12.64 km | Kris Meeke | Opel Corsa S1600 | 8:05.0 | Daniel Carlsson |
| Leg 2 (8 Nov) | SS14 | Resolfen 2 | 43.09 km | Daniel Carlsson | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | 25:18.6 | Daniel Carlsson |
| Leg 2 (8 Nov) | SS15 | Cardiff Super Special 3 | 2.45 km | Kris Meeke | Opel Corsa S1600 | 2:18.5 | Daniel Carlsson |
| Leg 3 (9 Nov) | SS16 | Rhondda 1 | 30.61 km | Kris Meeke | Opel Corsa S1600 | 18:27.2 | Daniel Carlsson |
| Leg 3 (9 Nov) | SS17 | Rhondda 2 | 30.61 km | Daniel Carlsson | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | 18:24.9 | Daniel Carlsson |
| Leg 3 (9 Nov) | SS18 | Margam Park 2 | 12.64 km | Daniel Carlsson | Suzuki Ignis S1600 | 8:09.4 | Daniel Carlsson |

#### Championship standings

* Bold text indicates 2003 World Champions.
| Pos. | Drivers' championships | Drivers' championships | Drivers' championships |
| Pos. | Move | Driver | Points |
| 1 | | Brice Tirabassi | 38 |
| 2 | | Salvador Cañellas Jr. | 36 |
| 3 | | Daniel Carlsson | 33 |
| 4 | 3 | Mirco Baldacci | 20 |
| 5 | 1 | Urmo Aava | 20 |