In September last year of his retirement after the season, announced one of the best pilots in the history of the WRC Rally Marcus Gronholm. Along with him from the championship WRC gone and his constant co-driver Timo Rautiainen. The duo took second place in the list of most renowned crew in the history of the rally - on account of their 30 wins. According to Gronholm, this decision was not easy for him, but wanted to leave at the peak of his form. Yes, and age still matters. At the time of the decision to withdraw the Finn was leading the championship, ahead of closest pursuer Loeb by 10 points, and went to his third world title. After all, go undefeated - it is especially nice. But to finish his career triple world champion Gronholm failed. Ret at the penultimate race of the championship in 2007 in Ireland, gave the advantage his main rival Sebastien Loeb, and Seb could not tell them not to take advantage. In WRC Rally Gronholm was in 1999, after becoming a five-time winner of the Finnish Rally Championship. In the same 99-m in the factory Peugeot team-up to the season, Marcus took 15 th place, but he only played on several stages. The following season, scoring 4 wins, champion Gronholm won the crown - it was a resounding success. Championship in 2001 turned a rather modest results - only the fifth place. To repeat his triumph of Marcus succeeded in 2002, when a margin of 40 points from his closest pursuer, Petter Solberg, he won the title yet for several stages until the completion of the championship. For Gronholm Peugeot factory team played until the end of the 2005 season, when he was signed a new contract, and with it a new team of BP Ford. From 2002 to 2005. legendary Finn did not manage to rise above third place. The main reason for this inexpressive speech called a Peugeot 307 WRC, which is against the background of the successful Peugeot 206 WRC was extremely unreliable. The next two seasons, speaking for the factory team Ford, Marcus stayed just a step away from victory, second only to the tireless Sebastien Loeb, whose superiority in the WRC championship lasts for 4 consecutive seasons. Speaking for the team BP Ford, Gronholm was able to win seven wins in a season, which was his highest result for a career. In addition, his team for the first time since 1979, was able to win the team standings. After retiring from the "big races" Marcus is very reserved on the subject of his future plans, while not denying the fact that work with a team of BP Ford will continue. Gronholm will participate in the test team, helping to set up a car for their young followers. In addition, the Finn is planning to visit several stages championship in 2008. Top achievements: 1988: Winner of the Youth Championship in Finland 1989: Scandinavian Rally Champion 1991: Champion of Finland in the Group N 1998: Champion of Finland in the overall classification 1999: 15 th in the World Rally Championship (Peugeot) 2000: World Rally Champion (Peugeot ) 2001: 5 th in the World Rally Championship (Peugeot) 2002: World Rally Champion (Peugeot) 2003: 6 th in the World Rally Championship (Peugeot) 2004: 5 th in the World Rally Championship (Peugeot) 2005 : 3rd in the World Rally Championship (Peugeot) 2006: 2 nd in the World Rally Championship (BP Ford) 2007: 2 nd in the World Rally Championship (BP Ford)
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