With the 2001 outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in Ireland, almost a dozen Irish rally crews decided to head to Luxembourg to try their hand on the continent. Dutch driver and multiple Dutch and Belgian champion Rocco Theunissen was expected to make the running but much to his surprise and to the delight of the Irish, it was 1999 Irish Tarmac Champions Ian Greer and Dean Beckett who made the running, leading the European ace on neutral ground and in equal machinery after the opening day. Theunissen attempted to counter attack on the second day but Greer drove superbly to extend his lead and win by over a minute.