Acropolis Rally 1999
Sunday 6 June
COMMUNIQUE 2

FREDDY LOIX GRABS SECOND ON ACROPOLIS
RALLY WITH MITSUBISHI CARISMA

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart driver Freddy Loix holds second place after the first stage of the Acropolis Rally, the eighth round of the 1999 FIA World Rally Championship. The Belgian has strong support from World Championship leader Tommi Makinen, who is close behind in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Mitsubishis also hold the top four places in the Group N production category.

A huge crowd of 120,000 people flocked to the first stage of the Greek round of the World Rally Championship, which ran in dusty conditions and temperatures as high as 33 degrees at Anavissos, south-east of Athens. It was smoother and much shorter than the tough mountain stages to come, but an entertaining test for spectators, with two cars running simultaneously over a twisty, purpose-built course.

Second fastest time, just one-tenth of a second behind leader Marcus Gronholm in a Peugeot was a real boost to Belgians Loix and Sven Smeets, who have been anxious to demonstrate the potential of the Michelin-equipped Carisma GT on one of the world’s roughest, toughest rallies.

"I must say that I surprised myself a bit. The stage was quite clean, but you had to be careful not to go out of the ruts, because the rest of the track was very slippery", Loix explained.

As expected, Finns Tommi Makinen and Risto Mannisenmaki lost a little time by running first on the road, which meant that their Lancer Evolution lost grip by sweeping loose gravel. However Makinen is confident that the car will work well later in the event as he bids for his first-ever Acropolis victory.

"We almost stopped on the last hairpin - I think we didn’t take quite enough petrol! I am sure that being first on the road will be a problem in places, but I really want to add this rally to my list of wins", Makinen said.

"It will be a tough rally. Whoever arrives at the end of the second leg with a car in good shape and in the first four is in with a chance. It will be important to drive carefully and preserve the car", stated Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart team manager Phil Short.

A tremendous battle for the Group N World Championship between three Mitsubishi drivers, Oman’s Hamed Al-Wahaibi, Uruguayan Gustavo Trelles and Austria’s Manfred Stohl is proving one of the highlights of the season and the trio completed the first stage in that order in class.

"I feel very much at home in this heat. We took it steadily on that stage, but we will have to attack even on the rough stages if we want to win", said Al-Wahaibi.

The first leg continues on Monday with another seven stages near Athens, totalling 117 kilometres.

OVERALL CLASSIFICATION AFTER SS 1