2002: overview

2002 Canary Islands

roc winner
Marcus Grönholm
roc finalist
Sébastien Loeb
roc 1/2-finalists
Duval and Rovanpera
nations cup
USA (J.Gordon/J.Johnson/C. Edwards)
nations cup finalists
Italy (R. Travaglia/F. Giovanardi/M.Melandri)

overview

ROC The fifteenth Michelin Race of Champions was won by Finland's Marcus Gronholm, who was delighted to add the 2002 Champion of Champions title to his 2002 World Rally Championship crown.

The Finn, whose previous best was finishing runner-up to compatriot, Tommi Makinen in 2000, beat Sebastien Loeb in a tensely fought final, eclipsing the French challenger by 2 heats to 1, and by just a bonnet-length in the decisive third heat.

On his way to the final Gronholm had seen off spirited challenges from 2001 & 2002 ROC Junior Champion, Francois Duval and American NASCAR star, Jimmie Johnson. Loeb had defeated 2001 Champion of Champions, Harri Rovanpera in his semi-final.

In the ROC Nations Cup team competition, the mantel of World’s Fastest Nation was apprehended by an all-star team from the USA, made up of Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR superhero, Jeff Gordon and biker, Colin Edwards.

ROC The trio owed much to the supremacy of Edwards in the Honda Blackbird-powered ROC Cars, who maintained an unblemished record throughout
all his heats.

The Americans beat the Italian trio of Marco Melandri, Renato Travaglia and Fabrizio Giovanardi in the final to triumph. Earlier in the weekend, Duval defeated local hero, Fernando Suarez to claim his second ROC Junior title and Swedish CART star, Kenny Brack beat off Jeff Gordon's challenge to win the inaugural ROC America contest.