Australia 2006

MARCUS GRONHOLM CRASHED ON THE FIRST STAGE ON DAY 1 AND ALTHOUGH HE EVENTUALLY MADE IT TO THE CONTROL HE HAD LOST SO MUCH TIME THAT ANY REALISTIC CHANCE OF CLIMBING BACK TO THE 3RD PLACE ON THE FINAL PODIUM, WHICH HE NEEDED TO KEEP HIS CHAMPIONSHIP HOPES ALIVE, HAD EFFECTIVELY VANISHED. ALTHOUGH HE FOUGHT BACK UP THE FIELD, AND DESPITE MANY RETIREMENTS AHEAD OF HIM, THE BEST HE COULD DO WAS TO FINISH 5TH. SEBASTIEN LOEB THUS WON HIS 3RD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SITTING AT HOME ON THE COUCH! HAD THE TITLE STILL BEEN AT STAKE HE MAY WELL HAVE TRIED TO RETURN FOR THE NEXT ROUND IN NEW ZEALAND BUT NOW HE CAN CONCENTRATE ON GETTING FIT FOR THE FINAL ROUND IN GREAT BRITAIN ON 1ST DECEMBER. GRONHOLM'S 'ABSENCE' ALLOWED MIKKO HIRVONEN TO FIGHT WITH PETTER SOLBERG FOR THE WIN AND MIKKO CAME OUT ON TOP TO TAKE HIS FIRST EVER WRC WIN AT THE LAST EVER RALLY OF AUSTRALIA. MANFRED STOHL OCCUPIED THE LAST SPOT ON THE PODIUM.

Rally Results posted by
David Little
30th October 2006

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