The Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart crew of Tommi Makinen and Risto Mannisenmaki have powered their Lancer Evolution into 7th position at the conclusion of the second leg of Rally New Zealand. Team-mates Freddy Loix/Sven Smeets and Toni Gardemeister/Paavo Lukander hold 10th and 16th respectively.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart
T. Makinen / R. Mannisenmaki
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Mitsubishi Motors drivers have however taken control of the Group N production car category. Austrian Manfred Stohl has a clear lead in his Mitsubishi Carisma GT and, in another impressive display of durability and speed, Mitsubishi drivers hold most of the leading places on the leaderboard.
The 62 remaining crews left Auckland at 06:50 hrs this morning for a further eight special stages and 176 competitive kilometres based around the northern harbour town of Ruawai, renowned for its shark fishing. While conditions remained dry with temperatures around 15 degrees for most of the day, rain fell this afternoon threatening the potential for more tactics, being that first on the road would be a better position if conditions get wet for the final day of competition.
Mitsubishi Carisma GT
Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart
F. Loix / S. Smeets
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Today’s leg, which is the longest of the event, also provided a sharp wake-up call for the drivers with the first stage, at 59 kilometres, being the longest in the FIA World Rally Championship. Road positions did prove critical and Hyundai’s overnight leader Kenneth Eriksson dropped nearly two minutes to seventh position, paving the way for Subaru’s Richard Burns to take the lead, which he has retained throughout the day. Tommi Makinen has had much cleaner conditions, starting from 14th position, although the Finn lost time in this longest stage with poor visibility caused by broken wipers and dust from catching Toshio Arai’s Subaru. The Finn has however steadily climbed up the leaderboard, setting top six stage times for most of the day, and starts the final leg of this southern hemisphere event with everything to fight for.
"We have obviously benefited from our running position, but then so have a lot of other drivers and it’s difficult to regain the time we lost yesterday", said Tommi. "For me, that’s where we lost the rally and it was not our fault - that is very frustrating when you are fighting so hard. We’ve had no real problems, a few little mistakes here and there, but generally things haven’t felt like they are working quite right. We opted for softer tyres in the last three stages, but it was not as wet as we thought it would be. Now we will just have to see what happens tomorrow".
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart
T. Gardemeister / P. Lukander
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In contrast, team-mates Freddy Loix and Sven Smeets have slipped down the order to 10th, a couple of spins earlier in the day losing them time. "I was worried about tyre wear in the first long stage, but as it turned out it was fine and we were over cautious", commented Freddy. "We then had spins in stages 10 and 13 and I think there was a problem with the centre diff in the last group of three stages. I am still not entirely happy; when the camber on the road is greater, and the drop off the side of the road is bigger in the corners, the inside wheel drops down and loses contact making the car unstable, that’s why we spun. We then took the wrong line over a crest in stage 15 and the deeper gravel off-line dragged us into a concrete fence, damaging the side of the car".
Toni Gardemeister and Paavo Lukander, driving the second registered Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, have powered 17 positions through the leaderboard to finish 16th overnight. The Finns have found more and more grip throughout the day and have been maintaining a competitive pace without taking risks. "We were a bit slower in the last three stages because they were completely new to me, but otherwise we have just kept a sensible pace", said Toni. "My confidence in the car is growing and I think we can go faster tomorrow".
A superb performance from Group N contender Manfred Stohl put Subaru opponent Cody Crocker on the defensive and enabled him to stretch a small lead in the dependable Carisma GT before his rival crashed.
Mitsubishi Carisma GT Gr.N
M. Stohl / P. Muller
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"This is one of my favourite rallies and the roads round here seem to be good for the Mitsubishi, but it’s still going to be difficult tomorrow," Stohl predicted.
Argentina’s Gabriel Pozzo holds second place in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and is driving with his sights firmly set on winning the Group N World Championship.
"The stages are very nice, but it’s quite difficult when you don’t know them so well and also we have to think of the championship. It’s very important we finish here," Pozzo stated.
Former World Champion Stig Blomqvist, driving a Carisma GT, is in the thick of a fight with Fumio Nutahara and holds a narrow six second advantage over the Japanese driving the latest Evolution VII.
"It is the first time I have driven this car, but I must say it is very good and I think it is even better than the older Lancers," Nutahara, who is fourth, said.
As heavy rain fell later in the afternoon, those at the front were keen to maintain their advantages for the final leg of Rally New Zealand. The route may only cover 89 competitive kilometres and eight stages (three of which are repeated) around Te Kauwhata in the south but, with six of them run in succession, any problems could see a significant change in fortunes.
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