McRae And Loeb Lead Charge In The Citroen Xsara
Published: 26th January 2003
Just six stages of his first ever rally in the Citroen
Xsara WRC was all it took for Colin McRae to set his first fastest
time, as he and French hot shot Sébastien Loeb, mounted
a storming challenge to end the first day of the Monte Carlo
Rally in third and second places respectively, closing in on
rally leader and current world champion Marcus Gronholm.
McRae’s time of 30 minutes 4.7 seconds on the last stage of the day helped to consolidate his third spot, some 47 seconds ahead of fellow British driver, Richard Burns.
As well as setting joint fastest time on stage 6 with McRae, Loeb also set the fastest time on stage 5 and is now just 20.6 seconds off the lead going into day two.
Three times world champion, Carlos Sainz also making his
debut in the Citroen Xsara WRC, drove a controlled race,
finishing the first day in fifth place, ensuring that all
three Xsaras finished leg 1 in the top six places.
