The Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart crew of Tommi Makinen and Risto Mannisenmaki reigned supreme in the final leg of Telstra Rally Australia to take victory in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. The Finnish duo won by a mere 5.5 seconds after nearly 400 kilometres of competitive driving.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart T. Makinen / R. Mannisenmaki

Mitsubishi’s four-times Group N World Champion Gustavo Trelles also took victory in his category, and Mitsubishi Motors drivers again excelled in the face of strong competition, taking no fewer than eight of the top 10 positions.

Large crowds of fanatical supporters flocked into the Sotico forestry complex southeast of Perth for the climactic leg of the penultimate round of the FIA World Rally Championship. The leading contenders had just four stages and 100 competitive kilometres to seal the outcome of what has been the most tactical rally in memory. Ten points for Makinen would have been enough to keep him in the race for the 2000 World title, however Peugeot’s Marcus Gronholm and Subaru driver Richard Burns both finished on the podium and, as a consequence, have knocked the reigning World Champion out of the fight. Gronholm and Burns will fight for the Driver’s title in Great Britain, while Peugeot and Ford will battle it out in the Manufacturers’ Championship.

Having dropped down the running order late last night after incurring a 10 second jump-start penalty, Tommi started today in third position behind Peugeot’s Marcus Gronholm and Subaru driver Richard Burns, a much more favoured position for today’s Bannister stages. However, just before the start of this morning’s opening stage, Burns stopped to change a ’puncture’ in the time control, which is permitted in the regulations, dropping him back down the leaderboard to start third, behind Tommi.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart T. Makinen / R. Mannisenmaki

Unfazed and totally focused on winning the rally, Tommi powered his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution through this and the proceeding stage, setting fastest time and a new stage record in both, proving that the will to succeed can overcome the disadvantage of running second on the road in these difficult road-sweeping conditions.

The Finn maintained his lead to the end and celebrates his third victory in Australia. "This is fantastic, I am obviously delighted", said Tommi. "The car has felt good and been going really well in these slippery conditions. It should hopefully be as good for us in Great Britain. For sure it is disappointing about the Championship, but this is the next best thing. We have proved we still have a competitive car and our aim is to finish the season on a another high".

Adding to his comments, Mitsubishi Ralliart Europe Chairman, Andrew Cowan said: "It’s a fantastic result which motivates the whole team. Tommi’s commitment has been unbeatable and to win this true driver’s rally proves, to me, that he is still the best rally driver in the world".

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Gr.N G. Trelles / J. del Buono

Uruguay’s Gustavo Trelles held on to his overnight Group N lead in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and, despite losing time to nearest rival, Subaru’s Toshi Arai, the multiple Champion won the category and, more importantly, kept his fight for an unprecedented fifth consecutive World title alive.

"We’ve been quite careful today", he said. "We had a good lead, which was lucky because we have been losing power all day. The result is fantastic, now it means we can fight for the Championship in Great Britain".

Series rival Manfred Stohl, driving a Carisma GT, finished third in Group N. The talented Austrian could have wrapped up the title here in Australia, but only with a victorious ten points. Even so, he goes into the Rally of Great Britain with a one point advantage over Trelles after 13 of the 14 rounds.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Gr.N G. Trelles / J. del Buono