Rally Argentina 1999
Sunday 23 May
COMMUNIQUE 3

MITSUBISHI LANCER DRIVER MAKINEN HOLDS FIFTH
AS MITSUBISHI DOMINATES GROUP N IN ARGENTINA

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart’s drivers Tommi Makinen, driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, and Belgium’s Freddy Loix, driving a Mitsubishi Carisma GT, have survived the toughest leg of the Rally of Argentina intact. They are well-placed to climb the order on Monday’s second leg of the rally, which is the seventh round of the 1999 FIA World Rally Championship. Mitsubishi is leading the Group N production class comfortably, thanks to Uruguay’s Gustavo Trelles.

Cool, cloudy conditions, with fog on the highest mountain peaks, failed to deter enormous crowds from following South America’s only round of the World Rally Championship. Fans are so keen that they even camp in the mountains, lighting fires for warmth and cooking. Competitors have faced some of the hardest stages in the world, with numerous rocks and deep water crossings to catch the unwary.

World Championship leaders Tommi Makinen and Risto Mannisenmaki have never been beaten in Argentina, but the Lancer crew were slowed by a gearbox problem, which restricted them to fifth place after the first leg.

"It has been a difficult day, but I am sure we can make up some time tomorrow. I think it will be better for us not going first on the road", Makinen said.

Freddy Loix and Sven Smeets have faced all kinds of incidents on their first visit to Argentina. They spun their Michelin-shod Carisma GT after hitting a rock on SS5, then slowed when they met a horse later in the stage, but still held ninth at the end of the leg.

"It has been good. The stages are like a mixture between Portugal and the Acropolis, and I like them. I am getting more confidence all the time", Loix commented.

"Tommi was quick from the start and his gearbox problem was a disappointment. He will have to press on tomorrow. Freddy has suffered from the recce restrictions, but I would say he stands a good chance of scoring points", stated Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart team manager Phil Short.

Mitsubishis hold the top two places in Group N. Triple World Champion Gustavo Trelles is ahead, but renewing his old rivalry with Argentina’s Jorge Recalde, both men driving Lancer Evolutions.

"Today has gone very well, but there are many difficult stages ahead and we need to keep concentrating", Trelles stated.

Group N Championship leader Hamed Al-Wahaibi was swapping times with the South American drivers until he got a puncture and went off the road, but the Oman driver is confident that he can improve on fifth in Group N during the rest of the rally.

The second leg heads north of Cordoba and includes seven highly demanding stages, totalling 127 kilometres.