Gilles Panizzi
Encyclopedia
Gilles Panizzi is a French
rally driver on the World Rally Championship
circuit.
Gilles was born in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
, Alpes-Maritimes
. Like many of his fellow rally racing countrymen, Gilles spent a great deal of his developmental driving years participating in asphalt rally events throughout his native land.
In 1996 and 1997, Gilles won the French Championship title in a Peugeot
-backed (funded) 306
kit car. It was at that point that he was nominated to drive for Peugeot as their resident asphalt (tarmac/sealed-surface) expert.
Between 1999 and 2003 Panizzi had great success in his role as Peugeot
s tarmac expert. He won a total of seven World Rally Championship
rounds in this period - all on tarmac. However, Panizzi's inability to match his rivals pace on gravel precluded him from challenging for the world title while at Peugeot
.
He is the only WRC driver to do a (famous) 360 spin at the 2002 Rally Catalunya.
He was leading by around 45 seconds and decided to give the fans a little treat.
In 2004, Mitsubishi Motorsports recruited Gilles and his co-driver and brother, Hervé, to lead the company's charge back in the World Rally Championship
.
In the 2005 season, Gilles was replaced in the lead car by Harri Rovanperä
, and guested in the second car with Gianluigi Galli. He finished 3rd at the Monaco
rally, the first event of the season, but only scored points in one other event.
In 2006, he was signed by the semi-privateer Red Bull Skoda
team. Despite a strong performance in the opening rally of the season in Monte Carlo
, he expressed his dissatisfaction at the performance of his car, and after a disappointing showing in Spain
, he announced his departure from the team, and was replaced by his former Peugeot teammate Harri Rovanpera
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
rally driver on the World Rally Championship
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
circuit.
Gilles was born in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France between Monaco and Menton. The name was changed from Roquebrune to differentiate the town from Roquebrune-sur-Argens in the neighboring Var Department.-History:In pre-Roman times the area was settled by the...
, Alpes-Maritimes
Alpes-Maritimes
Alpes-Maritimes is a department in the extreme southeast corner of France.- History : was created by Octavian as a Roman military district in 14 BC, and became a full Roman province in the middle of the 1st century with its capital first at Cemenelum and subsequently at Embrun...
. Like many of his fellow rally racing countrymen, Gilles spent a great deal of his developmental driving years participating in asphalt rally events throughout his native land.
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
-backed (funded) 306
Peugeot 306
The Peugeot 306 is a small family car built by the French car manufacturer Peugeot from 1993 to 2002 replacing the 309. Peugeot gave the 306 many updates and aesthetic changes to keep up the competition but it was replaced by the 307 in 2001. Cabriolet and estate versions continued until 2002...
kit car. It was at that point that he was nominated to drive for Peugeot as their resident asphalt (tarmac/sealed-surface) expert.
Between 1999 and 2003 Panizzi had great success in his role as Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
s tarmac expert. He won a total of seven World Rally Championship
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
rounds in this period - all on tarmac. However, Panizzi's inability to match his rivals pace on gravel precluded him from challenging for the world title while at Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
.
He is the only WRC driver to do a (famous) 360 spin at the 2002 Rally Catalunya.
He was leading by around 45 seconds and decided to give the fans a little treat.
In 2004, Mitsubishi Motorsports recruited Gilles and his co-driver and brother, Hervé, to lead the company's charge back in the World Rally Championship
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
.
In the 2005 season, Gilles was replaced in the lead car by Harri Rovanperä
Harri Rovanperä
Harri "Rovis" Rovanperä is a Finnish rally driver who competed in the World Rally Championship from 1993 to 2006. He drove for SEAT , Peugeot , Mitsubishi and Red Bull Škoda Team...
, and guested in the second car with Gianluigi Galli. He finished 3rd at the Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
rally, the first event of the season, but only scored points in one other event.
In 2006, he was signed by the semi-privateer Red Bull Skoda
Škoda Motorsport
Škoda Motorsport is the division of Czech car manufacturer Škoda Auto responsible for motorsport activities. Škoda competed as a manufacturer in the World Rally Championship between 1999 and 2005, and today competes in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge....
team. Despite a strong performance in the opening rally of the season in Monte Carlo
2006 Monte Carlo Rally
The 74ème Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo , the first round of the 2006 World Rally Championship season took place between January 20 and 22, 2006.-Pre-event:...
, he expressed his dissatisfaction at the performance of his car, and after a disappointing showing in Spain
2006 Rally Catalunya
The 42º Rally RACC Catalunya - Costa Daurada,the fourth round of the 2006 World Rally Championship season took place from March 24–26, 2006.- Event :...
, he announced his departure from the team, and was replaced by his former Peugeot teammate Harri Rovanpera
Harri Rovanperä
Harri "Rovis" Rovanperä is a Finnish rally driver who competed in the World Rally Championship from 1993 to 2006. He drove for SEAT , Peugeot , Mitsubishi and Red Bull Škoda Team...
.
WRC victories
| # | Event | Season | Co-driver | Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Early Modern France 44ème V-Rally Tour de Corse - Rallye de FranceTour de Corse The Tour de Corse - Rallye de France is a rally first held in 1956 on the island of Corsica. It was part of the World Rally Championship from the inaugural 1973 season to 2008. The name "Tour de Corse" refers to the fact that in the early days it was run around the island; nowadays it only features... |
2000 | Hervé Panizzi | Peugeot 206 WRC Peugeot 206 The Peugeot 206 is a supermini car, manufactured by the French automaker Peugeot from 1998 to 2010.Even though the 206 has finished production in most markets as of 2010, in Europe since 2009, it is available the 206+, with a back and especially a front design that resembles the Peugeot 207.-The... |
| 2 |  Italy 42º Rallye Sanremo - Rallye d'ItaliaRallye Sanremo Rallye Sanremo is a rally competition held in Sanremo, Italy. Except for the 1995 event, the event was part of the FIA World Rally Championship schedule from the 1973 season to the 2003 season. Currently, it is a round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge and the Italian national rally... |
2000 | Hervé Panizzi | Peugeot 206 WRC |
| 3 | Italy 43º Rallye Sanremo - Rallye d'Italia Rallye Sanremo Rallye Sanremo is a rally competition held in Sanremo, Italy. Except for the 1995 event, the event was part of the FIA World Rally Championship schedule from the 1973 season to the 2003 season. Currently, it is a round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge and the Italian national rally... |
2001 | Hervé Panizzi | Peugeot 206 WRC |
| 4 | Early Modern France 46ème Rallye de France - Tour de Corse Tour de Corse The Tour de Corse - Rallye de France is a rally first held in 1956 on the island of Corsica. It was part of the World Rally Championship from the inaugural 1973 season to 2008. The name "Tour de Corse" refers to the fact that in the early days it was run around the island; nowadays it only features... |
2002 | Hervé Panizzi | Peugeot 206 WRC |
| 5 |  Spain 38º Rallye Catalunya-Costa Brava (Rallye de España)Rally Catalunya The Rally Catalunya is a rally competition on the World Rally Championship schedule. Now held on the wide, smooth and sweeping asphalt roads around the town of Salou, Catalonia, Spain, it was previously held around the region of Costa Brava... |
2002 | Hervé Panizzi | Peugeot 206 WRC |
| 6 | Italy 44º Rallye Sanremo - Rallye d'Italia Rallye Sanremo Rallye Sanremo is a rally competition held in Sanremo, Italy. Except for the 1995 event, the event was part of the FIA World Rally Championship schedule from the 1973 season to the 2003 season. Currently, it is a round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge and the Italian national rally... |
2002 | Hervé Panizzi | Peugeot 206 WRC |
| 7 | Spain 39º Rallye Catalunya-Costa Brava (Rallye de España) Rally Catalunya The Rally Catalunya is a rally competition on the World Rally Championship schedule. Now held on the wide, smooth and sweeping asphalt roads around the town of Salou, Catalonia, Spain, it was previously held around the region of Costa Brava... |
2003 | Hervé Panizzi | Peugeot 206 WRC |
Sources
- WRC.com - the official World Rally Championship website.
- Official Website - note: inactive as of April 2006