Gilles Panizzi
Panizzi in 2005
World Rally Championship record
Nationality	French
Active years	1990–2006
Teams	Peugeot, Mitsubishi
Rallies	71
Championships	0
Rally wins	7
Podium finishes	14
Stage wins	91
Total points	134
First rally	1990 Monte Carlo Rally
First win	2000 Tour de Corse
Last win	2003 Rally Catalunya
Last rally	2006 Rally Catalunya

Gilles Panizzi (born September 19, 1965) is a French rally driver on the World Rally Championship circuit.

Gilles was born in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France. 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.

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

Gilles Panizzi at the 2005 Cyprus Rally

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

[edit] Sources

• WRC.com - the official World Rally Championship website.
• Official Website - note: inactive as of April 2006