Telstra Rally Australia 1999
Friday 5 November
COMMUNIQUE 3

MITSUBISHI DRIVER MAKINEN NEARS
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AS TRELLES TAKES GROUP N
WORLD TITLE ON TELSTRA RALLY AUSTRALIA

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart driver Tommi Makinen looks well on course to become FIA World Rally Champion for the fourth consecutive year in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution after a thrilling first leg on the penultimate round of the Championship, the Telstra Rally Australia. Mitsubishi driver Gustavo Trelles has already made sure of a fourth World title winning the Group N Production Cup outright in a Lancer Evolution.

Once the sun broke through the clouds, competitors faced warm, dry and dusty roads in the forests east of Perth around Mundaring and York. The heat only added to the challenge competitors faced and there were all kinds of dramatic developments to thrill the crowds. Frenchman Didier Auriol, Makinen’s main World Championship rival, retired his Toyota after leaving the road and damaging the engine, while Peugeot driver Francois Delecour hit major gearbox problems.

Tommi Makinen, co-driven by fellow Finn Risto Mannisenmaki, forced his way into the lead after eight of the first leg’s 11 stages, only to get a puncture on the next stage, which dropped him to fourth. He is sure to be World Champion if he finishes third and with two days left, he could certainly make up ground.

"We were a bit unlucky with the puncture, but now of course it’s easier, because Didier is out of the rally. We will go as fast as we can, because I would like to clear up the championship in Australia, but there are two days to go and many things can still happen", Makinen said.

Belgian team-mates Freddy Loix and Sven Smeets are right behind Makinen, holding fifth place in their Michelin-shod Mitsubishi Carisma GT. They have put in some excellent stage times to move into their best ever position in Australia.

"In places maybe I should have been faster, but it is still very slippery with a lot of loose gravel. I cannot remember these stages much either, but things are going well. I am happy with my position of course but I am more interested in my times", Loix commented.

A Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution driver was certain to win the Group N World Championship, but reigning champion Gustavo Trelles was under pressure from Oman’s Hamed Al-Wahaibi until he crashed. Trelles damaged the front of his car and retired a stage later, but is champion, subject to FIA confirmation. German Uwe Nittel holds second in Group N in his Carisma GT, behind Japan’s Toshihiro Arai.

"This is a fantastic feeling, to be the first driver to be World Champion four times in a row. I am only sorry that I have not finished the rally", Trelles said.

The second leg is the longest of the rally, taking crews south of Perth towards Harvey and Collie. Drivers face seven stages, covering 160 kilometres.

OVERALL CLASSIFICATION AFTER LEG 1