The Rallye de Portugal, the third round of the FIA World Rally Championship, got underway this evening as the crews headed east of Porto for the famous super special stage at Baltar.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart
T. Makinen / R. Mannisenmaki
|
With little respite from the rain, conditions are treacherously tricky and tonight’s super special was no exception. Drivers faced mud, rain and big water splashes as they raced head-to-head round the 3.2 kilometre purpose-built stage. And, with rocks and stones thrown up in the furious battle for vital seconds, it was a testing stage that could only have lost a crew the event.
Tommi Makinen, who currently shares the lead in the Championship standings, took the early advantage in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. He and co-driver Risto Mannisenmaki hold a slim one second advantage over Peugeot’s Marcus Gronholm and, although this is only the first short stage, vital seconds are always relevant.
"The conditions were very very bad", commented Tommi, "so it was just a case of making a good time and getting through without a problem".
Mitsubishi Carisma GT
Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart
F. Loix / S. Smeets
|
Team-mate Freddy Loix, driving the Mitsubishi Carisma GT, set equal fifth fastest time alongside Subaru’s young star, Markko Martin. He and Sven Smeets overnight just 7.8 seconds behind their team-mates.
"This is a good start but the rally really begins tomorrow. I cannot remember a time when it was so wet, really bad and not so much fun", commented Freddy.
Mitsubishi Motors drivers have taken an immediate lead in the Group N production car category. Four-times World Champion Gustavo Trelles signalled his determination to score his first win of the year by leading the way in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. The Uruguayan revelled in the conditions, taking no fewer than six seconds off his nearest rival in just three kilometres and beating numerous highly modified cars at the same time.
Mitsubishi Carisma GT Gr.N
M. Stohl / P. Muller
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Gr.N
G. Trelles / J. del Buono
|
"It was very difficult, with so much rain and mud and fog. I was glad just to finish the stage in fact, but the car was very good and it is always nice to be in the lead of course", Trelles commented.
Another South American driver, Argentina’s Gabriel Pozzo, was next in his Lancer Evolution, steering his way to an impressive time in the tricky conditions.
"It was a short stage, but a very tough one. It would have been so easy to make a mistake, so I am pleased to be second. I think the real rally begins tomorrow", Pozzo stated.
Swedish veteran and 1984 World Champion Stig Blomqvist demonstrated that he is still a force to be reckoned with no matter what the conditions by taking third place in his Carisma GT.
"It was not so nice out there and it was quite a difficult stage, but the important thing was just to stay on the road. Tomorrow’s stages will be even more difficult", Blomqvist predicted.
Marcos Ligato in his Lancer Evolution holds fourth and World Champion Manfred Stohl holds fifth place in his Carisma GT. Mitsubishi drivers hold the top six places in Group N, giving another convincing demonstration of Mitsubishi technology.
The Rallye de Portugal starts in anger at 06:30 hrs on Friday when the crews head northeast for nine special stages totaling 151 competitive kilometres.
![[ENTRANCE]](img/go_entrance2.gif){kind=small}
![[TOP PAGE]](img/mitsubishi.gif)