MAKINEN IN SOUTH AMERICA/MITSUBISHI MOTORS/2001 WRC

News No.8
Tuesday 1 May 2001

MAKINEN MOBBED IN SOUTH AMERICA

Click on the photographs to download higher resolution pictures

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart driver Tommi Makinen, three-times winner of Rally Argentina, and co-driver Risto Mannisenmaki arrived in South America to a massive welcome on Thursday (26 April). Ahead of their pre-event test for the only round of the FIA World Rally Championship to be held in this part of the world, the Finnish duo took time out of their hectic schedule to officially open the competition centre of DTA, a rally team in Paraguay supported by Mitsubishi importers, Nippon Automotors S.A..

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart crew of Tommi Makinen and Risto Mannisenmaki during their halt in Asuncion

As rallying is second only to football in terms of popularity in Paraguay, Makinen and Mannisenmaki were mobbed by hundreds of fans during their whistle-stop tour of Asuncion, the capital city. After performing the opening ceremony at DTA, Tommi was presented with a traditional ’guampa’, a metal cup for drinking ’terere’, the local tea, by the Automobile Club of Paraguay.

He and Risto were also entertained on-board the spectacular catamaran yacht ’Awesome’ by Ing. Genera Pena, the president of Nippon Automotors S.A., before attending a reception for over 300 customers, media and VIPs the same evening.

T. Makinen and R. Mannisenmaki were entertained on-board the catamaran yacht ’Awesome’

With testing commitments on Saturday, the Finns were then jetted out of Asuncion on Friday morning in Mr. Pena’s private King Air plane, arriving in Cordoba, Argentina, to meet up with team-mates Freddy Loix and Sven Smeets for the start of their final preparations for Rally Argentina, the fifth round of the series.

The Belgian Mitsubishi Carisma GT crew completed their test on Thursday and Friday morning in dry, sunny weather with temperatures hovering around the mid 20s, the objective to confirm the final set-up using the base from the recent Cyprus test. "This is the first time I’ve arrived in Argentina to nice weather!" commented Freddy. "As I didn’t do the Cyprus test, I took Tommi’s base settings and straight away it was very easy to drive and the handling and balance was good. I also tried different diff strategies for the twisty stages, because that’s really where I lost some time last year. I’m much happier with the turn-in and direction of the car now and am looking forward to starting my 50th rally".

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart driver Freddy Loix cooks typical Argentina meet

In contrast, team-mate Tommi Makinen experienced totally different conditions on Saturday, the earlier fine weather giving way to rain, colder temperatures around two/three degrees and even snow up in the mountains. "I’m quite happy", said the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution driver. "We tried some different options, but the conditions were quite difficult so we still have some other things to try at shakedown. Generally though, everything is good and much as we planned before the event".

The Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart crews started their three-day reconnaissance on Sunday, the nature of the route requiring the organisers to extend this from the regular two and a half days. The 21st Rally Argentina starts on Thursday 3 May with two runs at the 3.44 kilometre super special stage near Villa Carlos Paz. The action then starts in earnest on Friday morning before concluding on Sunday afternoon at the famous football stadium in Cordoba.

MICHELIN - NIPPON MITSUBISHI OIL - ENKEI - NGK - OHLINS - OMP - PIAA
PELTOR - BELLEROSE - SABELT - SCOTT USA - RAND WORLDWIDE