Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart driver Tommi Makinen, co-driven by Risto Mannisenmaki, powered his Lancer Evolution to victory today in the closing kilometres of a thrilling Rallye de Portugal. In doing so, the Finn notches up his 22nd win in 100 World Championship rallies, and Mitsubishi reaches a landmark of 25 victories with the Lancer Evolution/Carisma GT.

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

Tommi Makinen now leads the FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers by four points over second placed Carlos Sainz, and Mitsubishi has a phenomenal 13 point advantage in the Manufacturers’ Championship after just three rallies, having picked up a minimum of ten points on each event to date.

Mitsubishi Motors drivers claimed all the leading positions in the Group N production car category. It was a momentous occasion for Argentina’s Marcos Ligato, as he scored his first Group N victory at World Championship level, driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, after a tremendous battle with Carisma GT driver Manfred Stohl.

The 2001 Rallye de Portugal has experienced quite atrocious conditions and few can remember a time when the stages have been as bad. In the past this event has been viewed as the competitive benchmark for the season, the first true gravel event that gives a good indication of form. However, this year driving rain, mud and thick fog have changed the face of the event from a spring-like gravel rally to a Safari-spec mudbath!

Today’s final leg took the crews to the north for a scheduled three stages, however with the cancellation of the first, Makinen and Ford driver Carlos Sainz had only 34 kilometres in which to rage their duel and seal the outcome. Weather conditions have been better today, but the roads proved to be drier than Tommi expected and he lost his lead to Sainz when he cut his Michelin tyres too much for the conditions. With only three-tenths of a second separating the duo as they went in to the final and decisive section, Makinen drove the stage of his life to beat the Spaniard by a clear 8.6 seconds in a monumental showdown.

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

"It’s an incredible feeling", said the Finn. "It’s been such a difficult weekend and the last three years in Portugal I’ve had a bad performance and no results. We’ve been leading most of the rally, and up until the last stage, and I can tell you that was more than maximum attack! It’s really something to win my 100th rally and I can’t wait for Spain and the asphalt".

Adding to his comments, co-driver and friend Risto Mannisenmaki said: "It’s a fantastic feeling at the moment. This is up there with Sanremo two years ago and my first Monte win. The last stage was completely flat out!"

Weather conditions and tyres have been the major talking point on this rally and Makinen and Michelin won the war. Each team has to nominate its two tyre types four weeks in advance of the rally - when predicting weather conditions can be difficult - and, on paper, Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart did not look to have the optimum nominations, given this week’s conditions. However, an inspired Makinen sat down with his Michelin technicians at the shakedown and the partners formulated a plan to cut a circumferential groove round the tyres to help directional stability. It undoubtedly helped the Finn establish his lead on the opening leg and set the trend as other teams followed suit. It took two Michelin tyre cutters no less than one hour to cut each set of Makinen’s five tyres for every group of stages, but it was worth the effort!

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Gr.N M. Ligato / R. Garcia