Gilles Panizzi

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Gilles Panizzi

Panizzi at the 2005 Cyprus Rally.
World Rally Championship record
Nationality Flag of France French
Active years 1990–2006
Teams Peugeot, Mitsubishi
World rallies 71
Championships 0
Wins 7
Podium finishes 14
Stage wins 91
Points 134
First world rally 1990 Monte Carlo Rally
First win 2000 Tour de Corse
Last win 2003 Rally Catalunya
Last world rally 2006 Rally Catalunya

Gilles Panizzi is a driver on the World Rally Championship circuit.

Gilles was born in Roquebrune C.M., France on 19 September 1965. 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.

Panizzi driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution at the 2005 Cyprus Rally.
Panizzi driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution at the 2005 Cyprus Rally.

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 Peugeots 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.

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.

[edit] WRC victories

  #   Event Season Co-driver Car
1 Flag of France 44ème V-Rally Tour de Corse - Rallye de France 2000 Hervé Panizzi Peugeot 206 WRC
2 Flag of Italy 42º Rallye Sanremo - Rallye d'Italia 2000 Hervé Panizzi Peugeot 206 WRC
3 Flag of Italy 43º Rallye Sanremo - Rallye d'Italia 2001 Hervé Panizzi Peugeot 206 WRC
4 Flag of France 46ème Rallye de France - Tour de Corse 2002 Hervé Panizzi Peugeot 206 WRC
5 Flag of Spain 38º Rallye Catalunya-Costa Brava (Rallye de España) 2002 Hervé Panizzi Peugeot 206 WRC
6 Flag of Italy 44º Rallye Sanremo - Rallye d'Italia 2002 Hervé Panizzi Peugeot 206 WRC
7 Flag of Spain 39º Rallye Catalunya-Costa Brava (Rallye de España) 2003 Hervé Panizzi Peugeot 206 WRC

[edit] Sources