Marcus Grönholm
Marcus Grönholm (born with Kauniainen the February 5th 1968) is an old driver of rally Finnish. It adds up 30 victories into world and two championships of the world . Marcus Grönholm began at the 13 years age in motocross, before being put at the rally in 1986, it gains the championship of Finland junior since 1988, then the national championship groups NR in 1991.
Starting from 1989 it takes part in some rallys of the championship of the world at the wheel of Toyota private Corola and Celica.
In spite of four championships of Finland (in 1994,1996,1997 and 1998), it will have to wait until 1999 before finally obtaining an official wheel in championship of the world.
Engaged by Peugeot in 1999, it quickly takes the ascending one on its fellow-members and gains the championship of the world in 2000, then in 2002 at the wheel of the 206 WRC.
In 2003, it gains three victories, but at the end of the season the 206 growing old WRC does not enable him any more to compete with the Citroen Xsara WRC and Subaru Impreza WRC.
The season 2004 is even more difficult for Marcus: the news Peugeot 307 WRC misses reliability and Marcus Grönholm gains only one victory in Finland.
In 2005 the 307 WRC is finally reliable, but the French Sebastien Loeb (on Xsara WRC) crushes the championship. Marcus gains all the same two victories and of many podiums. At the time of the rally of the United Kingdom, Marcus then second of the rally, is withdrawn following the death of Michael Park (copilot of Markko Märtin on the other 307 WRC) after a violent route exit. Marcus Grönholm finishes second of the championship with equality of points with Petter Solberg.
In 2006, following the withdrawal of Peugeot, it joined the stable Ford. As of its first rallys at the wheel of Ford X-ray WRC, it gains the rallys of Monte Carlo and Sweden. The continuation of the season is marked by its many duels with Sebastien Loeb: with them two they shared the majority of the victories, often relegating the remainder of competition to several minutes. But in spite of the absence of the French in Turkey and Australia, following a fall of VTT, Marcus leaves to the fault to Australia and must give up its hopes to be able to come to cap Loeb on the wire for the title. Its sixth victory of the season in New Zealand, in front of its fellow-member Mikko Hirvonen, however makes it possible Ford to gain the title manufacturer (the last tonic at 1979).
Currently fights about it for the title of world champion of the rallys 2007 it gained 5 victories since the beginning of the season and adds up 9 podiums in 11 races. Its worse performance after 11 rallys is one 4th place in Portugal, and in Germany following an route exit in the special last. In Zealand news it gains with 0.3 seconds in advance on Sebastien Loeb, it is the weakest variation recorded with resulting from a rally of championship of the world. A few days after this victory, he will announce his withdrawal of the world competition at the end of the season.
On Friday, November 16, 2007, Marcus Grönholm (Ford Focus), left the road in the fourth special test, at the beginning of the 1st stage of the Rally of Ireland, is evacuated in the ambulance. Its fellow-member, Timo Rautiainen, was not touched in the accident. Two other cars of point left in this ES4, the Subaru of Australian the Chris Atkinson and the Spaniard Xavier Pons (" Xevi" Pons), but without damage for the pilots. The special one is stopped after the passage of ten competitors.
Its copilot, Timo Rautiainen, is also his brother-in-law.
December 2nd, 2007, after the ultimate handle of the championship of the world 2007, it takes its retirement on a new place of vice-champion of the world behind Sebastien Loeb.
Titers
Victoires in Championship of the world of the rallyes
External bond
- Official site
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