World Rally Championship 2003

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The World Rally Championship 2003 was the 31st edition of the World Rally Championship and took place from 24 January to 9 November 2003.

The series iridata, consisting of fourteen tests placed in as many nations, was again supported by the world championship for production cars (PWRC), dedicated to the Group N cars strictly derived from the series, and the Junior WRC championship (JWRC), established in 2001, which assigned the trophy to the young drivers who were citing in the Super 1600 class. Both support series consisted of seven stages each.

The pilot championship saw the Norwegian Petter Solberg triumphing at a Subaru Impreza WRC2003, followed on the final podium by the French Sébastien Loeb, on Citroën Xsara WRC and overwhelmed for only one point from Solberg at the last race, and by Spanish Carlos Sainz, also behind the wheel of a Citroën, third at 8 lengths from Loeb.

The title builders were won by the French sculptor Citroën Total, his first gold medallion and Solberg.

In the PWRC Championship, the British Martin Rowe was defeated by Subaru Impreza WRX STi, while the French Brice Tirabassi was behind a Renault Clio S1600.

Calendar
The championship, with its fourteen events in as many nations, touched Europe ( eleven races), Oceania (two) and South America (one).

Changes in the calendar

The Safari Rally was not included in the 2003 calendar for financial problems and the place of the African race was taken by the Rally of Turkey, at the debut in the world and placed between late February and early March as the third season appointment.

Secondary changes were the move of the New Zealand Rally, anticipated from October to April, while the Cyprus Rally slipped from April to June. Germany's Rally was anticipated at the end of July, wintering with the Finland Rally, while the Australia Rally from early November was anticipated at the first weekend of September. Finally, the Tour de Corse and the Rally of Catalonia were both moved from March to October, after the Sanremo Rally, having three consecutive races on the asphalt within 21 days.

Changes in the Regulation
Regarding the 2002 season, changes were made in sports and technical regulations.

Sports regulations
He changed the ladder with regard to scores, no longer the first six but the first eight: the first would have always totaled 10 points, the second not more 6 but 8 points, then 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1.

Technical Regulation
The maximum capacity of the fuel tank was brought to 95 liters.

Teams and pilots

The premises
The teams of the 2003 season officially enrolled were six, the same who participated in the 2002 World Championship except for the Mitsubishi, who, after the disappointing previous year, decided to take a sabbatical year to devote himself entire