Peugeot, Gronholm excluded, Loeb wins in Cyprus.

Peugeot number one Marcus Gronholm has lost his Cyprus Rally victory after stewards ruled the water pumps fitted to the 307 WRCs did not conform to the technical regulations.

As a result, Citroen's Sebastien Loeb has been declared the new winner.

Peugeot's Harri Rovanpera has also been excluded, having finished fifth in the event.

The hearing, which was held today, at the FIA's headquarters in Paris, announced the following findings:

"Further to a report from the FIA technical delegate regarding the water pumps in Marlboro Peugeot Total car #5 - Marcus Gronholm and Timo Rautiainen - and car #6 - Harri Rovanpera and Risto Pietilainen - and having considered the statements from the representatives of the competitor at a meeting held in the Paris headquarters of the FIA, the water pumps were not found to be in conformity with the technical regulations.

"The Stewards decided that Marlboro Peugeot Total car #5 and Marlboro Peugeot Total car #6 be excluded from the 2004 Cyprus Rally.

"The competitor was reminded of their right to appeal."

Citroen meanwhile who were also investigated, have been cleared of breaking the regulations.

"Further to a report from the FIA technical delegate regarding the water pumps in Citroen car #3 - Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena - and car #4 - Carlos Sainz and Marc Marti - the water pumps were found to be in conformity with the technical regulations," added the statement. "The Stewards thus decided that no further action was required."

As such Loeb takes the maximum ten points, with Markko Martin second for Ford and Carlos Sainz third.