Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart will contest the Swedish Rally, the second round of the 2001 FIA World Rally Championship will be held in central Sweden, full of confidence after a brilliant start to the season with Tommi Makinen’s win on the Monte Carlo rally.

The team, for the first time, will enter a strong three car line up with Makinen driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Belgium’s Freddy Loix and Swede Thomas Radstrom, both driving Mitsubishi Carisma GTs.

The Swedish Rally is a unique challenge, distinctly different from the Monte Carlo Rally. The Swedish has always been a sprint event and has long been run in the depths of the Scandinavian winter. There are few hours of daylight and the forests of central Sweden make an inhospitable environment for man and machine. Whereas frozen conditions are always a possibility on the Monte, snow and ice are near-certain in Sweden and temperatures can plunge 20 or 30 degrees below zero. Nevertheless, it is one of the quickest and most spectacular rallies in the World Championship with average speeds regularly in excess of 110 km/h. Although drivers of many nationalities have done well, it remains a Nordic stronghold: in 50 years, only Swedes and Finns have won.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart T. Makinen / R. Mannisenmaki (Photo Rd.1 2001 Rallye Monte-Carlo)

Finns Tommi Makinen and Risto Mannisenmaki will certainly be amongst the favourites after their resounding Monte Carlo victory in their Lancer Evolution, for Makinen has already won the Swedish three times.

"I like the Swedish roads very much ­ it is always good to drive on snow ­ and our new suspension this year makes the car even better. It is good on bumps and jumps now, so I think we have a good chance. I am looking forward to it," Makinen said.

"Risto and I made the best start to the season in Monte and we hope to extend our lead in the Championship next month in Sweden, " he continued.

Mitsubishi Carisma GT Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart F. Loix / S. Smeets (Photo Rd.1 2001 Rallye Monte-Carlo)

Belgians Freddy Loix and Sven Smeets are less familiar with Swedish conditions than their team-mates, but Loix demonstrated his potential by setting excellent stage times in icy conditions during the Monte and will be hoping to finish in the points for the second rally in a row.

"The Swedish is always a tough event and an important rally to learn. This year I have no pressure, which is good. We have a good car, rising confidence and I will be aiming for the best result possible," Loix commented.

Swedes Thomas Radstrom and Tina Thorner are newcomers to the team, but have a considerable reputation, for Radstrom has often led the rally in the past and won it in 1994. They have been nominated by Mitsubishi to score points in the World Championship for Manufacturers.

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart From left to right: F. Loix, S. Smeets, R. Mannisenmaki, & T. Makinen

"I have the capacity of winning the rally, but then you have to be lucky as well. I will be learning the car a little bit and of course, the main thing is to help Mitsubishi in the World Championship. As long as Tommi Makinen is at the top, it is difficult to think of winning," Radstrom stated.

"Mitsubishi has a strong record in Sweden and we’re hoping for another very good result. Tommi is fantastically well motivated at the moment and we’re redoubling our efforts to make sure that everything is just right for him. Thomas has finished on the podium or been fighting very hard for a podium place for the last three or four years and there’s no doubt that he’s highly competitive in Sweden. He will try the car at our confirmation test and as our suspension people have worked with him before, we should be able to give him what he needs. Freddy will be able to focus on his own performance. He has the same car specification as everyone else and we hope he goes as well as he did on the Col de Turini during the Monte Carlo Rally. It’s a question of following up what he managed there," Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart team manager George Donaldson said.

Mitsubishi Carisma GT Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart T. Radstrom