Rally - Peugeot consider options after fatal crash

[NarendZORCE]

LONDON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Peugeot, already due to pull out of rallying at the end of the season, could leave earlier after the death of co-driver Michael Park in Sunday's Rally of Britain.

The French team have been deeply shocked by the loss of the 39-year-old Briton, who was partnering Estonian driver Markko Martin.

"We will now consider the remainder of the season. The championship is nothing compared to this," team boss and former driver Jean-Pierre Nicolas told Eurosport television.

There are four rounds of the world championship remaining -- Japan, Corsica, Catalunya and Australia.

Peugeot withdrew Finland's Marcus Gronholm from the Rally of Britain immediately after Martin's car hit a tree in South Wales.

Their gesture would have handed the drivers' title to Citroen's Sebastien Loeb but the Frenchman deliberately incurred time penalties before the formal finish in Cardiff to ensure he did not win in such circumstances.

"This is a sport," said Loeb, who should now claim the championship in Japan next month. "I compete to win, but not like that.

"It's completely stupid. They should have stopped the rally there and then. Marcus didn't even pose the question, he stopped. For me, it was the same."

Loeb has 99 points with four rounds remaining, 34 clear of Norwegian Petter Solberg, Sunday's nominal winner in a Subaru. Gronholm is 38 behind the Frenchman.

Citroen lead Peugeot, their stablemates within the PSA group, by 20 points in the manufacturers' championship.


� Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved.
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=motorSportsNews&storyID=URI:urn:newsml:reuters.com:20050919:MTFH98714_2005-09-19_09-32-15_L19680475:1

[JUS4SHO]

truely sad and "one off incident" with in recent times
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friends dont let friends drive stock

[Plex]

this is a sad incident that has happened..