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Competitors were split into two distinct groups - Competition (40 cars) and Regularity (100 cars) - based on previous results, the former would provide the overall winner but their identity was far from certain. Making his event debut, twice World Rally Champion Walter Röhrl, partnered with his original co-driver Christian Geistdorfer in a 911 Porsche, would face stiff competition from 2002 winners, Dutch father and son team John and Jan Bosch in their Ferrari Daytona Competition. In a German dominated entry, there were familiar names to tifosi and historic race-goers alike. Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge competitor David Franklin, accompanied by wife Debbie, returned with their immaculately-prepared Mustang Shelby GT350. Long-time Alfa Romeo enthusiast Carol Spagg piloted a TZ1 with verve. Globe-trotting historic racer Martin Stretton (he gets around nearly as much as I do!) was in a Cambridge Motorsport-prepared 911 Porsche and Dutch arch Ferrari enthusiast Nico Koel, partnered by daughter Marliese, in a 275 GTB/C. With scrutineering on Tuesday, Wednesday dawned bright and sunny, the south west of the island providing the backdrop for four special stages totalling 180 kms. Bosch and 1977 Le Mans winner Jürgen Barth (911 Porsche mounted) dominated the opening day, with Martin Stretton and David Franklin right behind. It was fantastic to see four pre-war cars headed by Helmer Broich's 1928 Mercedes SS tackle the tight and twisty stages of Valldemossa and Sóller, whilst three "ladies only" crews added pace and glamour to an entry with hardly any retirements. Stages 5-7 were completed on Thursday, with 220 kms taking the competitors to the far north of Majorca and the coastal town of Puerto Pollenca. The 3.2 km seafront sprint was ideally suited to the short wheelbase, torquey 911 Porsches who filled the top 12 positions, save for 9th fastest - Michael Menden's brutal Chevrolet Corvette. Despite the organisers best attempts at crowd control, several non-interested cyclists and tourists almost interrupted the event with unnecessary jay-walking and the local "guardia civil" nearly gained a red Chevrolet Corvette as its driver narrowly avoided their vehicle compound! By the end of Day 3, during which Walter Röhrl had won every stage, Porsches filled the top five positions, with John Bosch the lone Ferrari in the top ten. New for 2003, the Sa Calobra ("the snake") hillclimb in the island's mountainous mid-west was the location for two of Friday's stages. Nearly 12 kms in length, the "Majorcan Pikes Peak" was ascended before and descended after lunch and caught out several experienced crews. A pattern in the results had clearly emerged - Walter Röhrl and Jürgen Barth proved that 20+ years after their major career success you never lose it! Former Dutch national rally champion John Bosch was trying hard - very hard, but the Daytona Competition was no match for the more tractable 911 Porsches. Sa Calobra was an excellent innovation and the opportunity for chase crews to follow competitors meant that the stage was completed ahead of schedule. The final day's activity centred on Circuit Llucmajor (pronounced look-my-ar), located 20 kms north east of Palma. It can best be described as Mallory Park ......... in the sun but without the lake! Ideally suited to kart and motorcycle racing, the track has undergone significant enhancement since 2002 all of which made it more suitable for the Porsches. In a determined, aggressive drive, John Bosch reduced the time deficit to Barth and Röhrl significantly ..... but not enough. The competition co-efficient was such that overall victory went to Jurgen Barth and Birgit Spaltmann in a Porsche 911, closely followed by Röhrl/Geistdorfer (Porsche 911) and Bosch/Bosch (Daytona Competition). Martin Stretton and Georges Huber were sixth overall (Porsche 911), whilst David & Debbie Franklin and Carol Spagg won 2nd class awards. Once again Majorca had provided an excellent backdrop for the event - excellent weather, superb organisation and an inspired re-location of "parc-ferme" to Hipodromo de Palma (the island's oldest horse-racing track). Thanks are due to Mike Riedner and his press team, who provided extensive information and access to the event's stages; and to my car hire company who responded really quickly to my request for a new clutch cable, even though I was half-way up a mountain pass at the time!! This event is now really well-established but what it needs is more British crews .... it's time we won it!! Click here to return to the Ferrari Happenings page.
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