China Rally 1999
Sunday 19 September
COMMUNIQUE 4

MITSUBISHI LANCER DRIVER MAKINEN SHARES
WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD AFTER CHINA RALLY

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart driver Tommi Makinen retains a share of the lead of the 1999 FIA World Rally Championship despite failing to finish the 11th round, the China Rally. It was a successful event for Mitsubishi however, as Gustavo Trelles extended his lead in the Group N production class World Championship, while Katsuhiko Taguchi became the Asia-Pacific Rally Champion and secured the Asia-Pacific Manufacturers’ Championship for Mitsubishi (subject to confirmation from the FIA).

The third and final leg included six special stages in the picturesque lake and mountain region north-east of Beijing, before the finish beneath the Great Wall of China itself at Jin Shan Ling. Rain in the morning ensured that the stages were muddier than ever and tested competitors’ skill to the limit, Didier Auriol with a Toyota taking victory and pulling level with Makinen in the 1999 FIA World Rally Championship.

Despite his retirement from third place yesterday, Finn Tommi Makinen remains confident of retaining the World Rally Championship for the fourth year running at the wheel of his Michelin-shod Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. He has led the 1999 championship from the start and won next month’s round, Italy’s Sanremo Rally, last year.

"Of course it would have been better if we could finish here, but I think we still have a very good chance. We proved here our car is very competitive and we have already won three rallies this year", Makinen said.

Uruguayan Gustavo Trelles finished second in Group N in his Lancer Evolution and has therefore built up a comfortable lead in the race for the 1999 championship after his great rival and fellow Lancer Evolution driver Hamed Al Wahaibi from Oman retired just two stages from the end with engine trouble.

Mitsubishi swept the board in the Asia-Pacific Championship once more, taking three of the main titles. 27-year-old Japanese Katsuhiko Taguchi scored a brilliant double, winning both the outright and Group N Championships in his Lancer Evolution, co-driven by Malaysia’s Ron Teoh. It was a superb demonstration of the quality of Mitsubishi technology and helped Mitsubishi win the Asia-Pacific Manufacturers’ Championship as well (subject to confirmation from the FIA).

"I can hardly believe that we have done so well. Even though we were third in 1998, I was just aiming for Group N this year and I am delighted to win the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship itself too. This is the best moment of my career", Taguchi said.

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart is preparing for a very different challenge on the 12th round of the World Rally Championship, Italy’s Sanremo Rally, which starts on October 11.

FINAL OVERALL CLASSIFICATION (PROVISIONAL)