Acropolis Rally 1999
Wednesday 9 June
COMMUNIQUE 5

MITSUBISHI LANCER DRIVER MAKINEN EXTENDS
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD ON ACROPOLIS RALLY

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart driver Tommi Makinen has extended his lead in the World Rally Championship thanks to a podium finish on the ultra-tough Acropolis Rally. The Finn finished third behind winner Richard Burns driving a Subaru and Toyota’s Carlos Sainz. Mitsubishi was the only manufacturer to bring two cars to the finish in the top six, with Freddy Loix finishing a strong fourth in his Carisma GT. The Group N production class was also won by Mitsubishi.

The final leg returned to the hills of Attika and stages already used in the first leg. Most competitors were battling for survival after two days of hard driving and fewer than half the starters lasted the distance.

Makinen and co-driver Risto Mannisenmaki went on to the attack at once, only to run into a suspension problem. They did well to make repairs themselves and to fight back to third on a rally that proved too tough for many of the factory teams.

"This has been a really hard rally - much rougher than it used to be. We have been a bit unlucky here, but our championship lead is bigger and we have some good rallies coming up", Makinen said.

Belgians Freddy Loix and Sven Smeets recorded their best ever result in Greece bringing their Michelin-shod Carisma GT home in fourth place. Their impressive drive improves Mitsubishi’s second place in the manufacturers’ title race.

"I think we found a good speed and we did some good times on the twisty. This is an important result for Mitsubishi and I am pleased to finish in the points", Loix stated.

"To have both cars at the finish is most satisfactory. Tommi started off well today and was making big inroads on the leaders until he had a problem. I think Freddy is getting his confidence back and he did well on a rally where it’s difficult to stay out of trouble. I feel we could have won, but when it’s as rough as this it does become a lottery", said Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart team manager Phil Short.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution driver Hamed Al-Wahaibi from Oman drove brilliantly to win Group N and he has closed the gap on fellow Mitsubishi driver and championship leader Gustavo Trelles. Manfred Stohl was unlucky to lose second place with mechanical problems.

"This rally is a real car-breaker and you really have to drive with your head, so I’m very pleased. In some ways, this was harder than the Safari", Al-Wahaibi said.

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart’s next appearance will be the Rally of New Zealand, the ninth round of the World Rally Championship, on 16-18 July.

FINAL OVERALL CLASSIFICATION (PROVISIONAL)