Marcus Grönholm wins Neste Rally Finland

11.08.2004

This was Grönholm’s first victory this season, his last win coming 15 months ago. The victory was indeed important for the top Finnish driver, as championship leader Sebastian Loeb had threatened to run away with the championship this year.
“This win really feels good, as we have had so many problems this season. It was by no means an easy victory, but I would probably have been pushed harder if Markko was back in top shape,” Grönholm commented after the race.
Marcus Grönholm really has had bad luck this season, losing points due to technical problems and other regrettable incidents. Grönholm was fastest in Cyprus in May, for example, but he was later disqualified due to an illegal water pump in his Peugeot 307CC.
Grönholm’s car continued to use a four-speed transmission in Jyväskylä, but he expects to use a new five-speed transmission already in the next rally. The new transmission was tested in Finland by Sebastian Lindholm.
Marcus Grönholm now trails Sebastian Loeb by 24 points. Seven rallies remain in the season, with ten points going to the winner of each event. Loeb was fourth in Finland, giving him five points. Between Grönholm and Loeb in second place is Norwegian driver Petter Sohlberg, who is just two points ahead of Grönholm. The remaining rallies this season will be driven in Germany, Japan, England, Italy, France, Catalonia and Australia.
When he is not racing, Marcus Grönholm takes care of his farm in Inkoo on the southern coast of Finland. Grönholm drives a Valtra 6550 HiTech tractor.

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