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

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart is at full strength for Rally Finland, the ninth round of the 2001 FIA World Rally Championship, with a three-car team spearheaded by World Championship leader Tommi Makinen. He drives a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, while Finn Toni Gardemeister and Belgian Freddy Loix handle Mitsubishi Carisma GTs. Mitsubishis dominate the entry, as there are no fewer than 64 taking part, and they are the clear favourites in the Group N production class.

There could hardly be a greater contrast to the last World Championship rally, the Safari. Drivers must adapt from the ultimate test of stamina to the ultimate test of speed, from rocky tracks, the hazards posed by stray animals and searing heat to the absolute commitment required on Finland’s famous switchback forest roads. Although the rally may well be cool and wet enough to hint at north Europe’s autumn, the shakedown took place in bright sunshine. Inevitably, large crowds thronged the stage and service area east of the central Finnish town of Jyvaskyla, for the reputation of Finnish rally drivers, and Makinen in particular, is second to none - they have not lost since 1990 - and the rally is by far the country’s biggest sporting event.

Mitsubishi Carisma GT Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart T. Gerdemeister / P. Lukander

Tommi Makinen, co-driven by Risto Mannisenmaki, is bidding for an unprecedented fifth world title in his Michelin-shod Lancer Evolution and he is confident of giving his home crowd a performance to remember. Makinen, along with Colin McRae, Carlos Sainz and Juha Kankkunen also have 92 World Championship rally victories between them and, as each are equal on 23 wins, Makinen will be all-out to take the 24th victory to become the most successful rally driver of all time.

"The last two years have not been so good here and it would be nice to win again. I know what we need to do and we are well prepared for any conditions", Makinen stated.

Mitsubishi Carisma GT Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart F. Loix / S. Smeets

Finns Toni Gardemeister and Paavo Lukander have been drafted into Mitsubishi’s World Championship line-up for the first time and are determined to make a good impression in the Carisma GT.

"Everything feels good after our last test. My target is to finish in the points. I don’t think we’ll be going flat out, but if we are close to Tommi I will be happy,’ Gardemeister said.

Belgian crew Freddy Loix and Sven Smeets are also hoping for good things in their Carisma GT, Sven also having just become a father for the first time to a baby boy he and wife Lesley have named Risto.

World Rallying’s most successful drivers: C. Sainz, Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart driver T. Makinen, J. Kankkunen & C. McRae