TAP Rallye de Portugal 2000
Wednesday 15 March
COMMUNIQUE 1

MITSUBISHI DRIVERS CONFIDENT OF
RALLY OF PORTUGAL SUCCESS

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart aims to capitalise on a fine start to the 2000 FIA World Rally Championship on the fourth round, the Rally of Portugal. Former winner Tommi Makinen leads the Championship in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, while Mitsubishi Carisma GT driver Freddy Loix also has a fine record in Portugal.

Few rallies attract such large and enthusiastic crowds as Portugal. Thanks partly to warm, sunny weather, there were plenty of spectators even at the shakedown at Barossas, northeast of Oporto, on the eve of the rally. In spring-like conditions, the rally looks set to be fast, dusty and rough ­ a stern test of man and machine.

Despite strong opposition from six other factory teams, four-times World Champion Tommi Makinen, co-driven by fellow Finn Risto Mannisenmaki, believes he has an excellent chance of winning in the Lancer Evolution.

"We have been working with the suspension and the handling is even better now. It will be a bit difficult starting first on the road when it is dry, because there will be gravel, but the rally is three days, not one! It should be good", Makinen said.

Belgians Freddy Loix and Sven Smeets are making their first appearance in Portugal for Mitsubishi and are delighted with the Michelin-shod Carisma GT.

"We have been trying new things with the car and it is very good. Sixty percent of the stages are new for us, which is not so easy now we are allowed only two practice runs at each stage, but we will be going flat out on the ones we know and we are definitely aiming for points", Loix declared.

Mitsubishi also has a powerful presence in the Group N production car class. Few cars can approach the performance of a near-standard Lancer Evolution or Carisma GT and Mitsubishis have won the Group N prize on every round of the Championship so far this year. There is no clear favourite in such a competitive environment, but the main contenders include Uruguay’s four-times World Champion Gustavo Trelles, Championship leader Manfred Stohl from Austria, last year’s winner Miguel Campos and German ace Uwe Nittel. All of them drive Mitsubishis.

"This is always a hard rally and the last leg is going to be rough, but we hope for a good result. It is important to score points, but it would be nice to beat Manfred", said Trelles.

The rally begins on Thursday evening with a spectator stage at the Baltar rallycross circuit. The first leg continues on Friday with a tough loop through the famous Fafe and Cabeceiras stages east of Oporto, in the mountains bordering the River Douro.