Tour de Corse - Rallye de France 1999
Sunday 9 May
COMMUNIQUE 4

MITSUBISHI DRIVER MAKINEN STILL ON
TOP AFTER CORSICA RALLY

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart driver Tommi Makinen maintained his lead in the 1999 FIA World Rally Championship with a well-judged performance in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution on the sixth round, the Tour de Corse. Belgian Freddy Loix also contributed to the team’s points score in his Mitsubishi Carisma GT and Mitsubishi drivers dominated the Group N production class.

The final leg of the world’s toughest asphalt rally was fought out under near-cloudless skies. For the first time in World Rally Championship history, extra points were awarded for the last stage, which was televised live - and that turned out well for Mitsubishi, as Tommi Makinen exploited the Lancer’s performance and Michelin’s tyres to grab two extra points.

Makinen and fellow Finn Risto Mannisenmaki put in a storming drive in the closing stages to grab sixth place, confirming the triple World Champion’s lead in the 1999 title race, despite unprecedented competition.

"It has been tough, but we got a good result in the end. The competition is really hard, but my Lancer was really excellent today", Makinen declared.

Belgian crew Freddy Loix and Sven Smeets came through a daunting test with flying colours, finishing in eighth place despite limited experience.

"I achieved what I was expecting before the start. This is a more difficult rally than Catalunya and I am pleased to score a point for Mitsubishi", Loix stated.

"We have achieved a good result from a rally that did not promise much in the early stages. Tommi gained confidence in the car and set some excellent times today. I think there were some positive things including Freddy’s result", said Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart team manager Phil Short.

Mitsubishi crushed all opposition in Group N, taking the first seven places. World Champion Gustavo Trelles triumphed in a thrilling duel with Austrian Manfred Stohl, with Oman’s Hamed Al-Wahaibi finishing third.

"I am very pleased to score this win with my latest Lancer Evolution. It is always good to win in a new car", Trelles commented.

"It is disappointing not to win, but second place is still good on a difficult rally like this", Stohl said.

"My experience in Catalunya was very helpful for my first visit to Corsica and third place gives us useful championship points", Al-Wahaibi declared.

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart’s next appearance will be the Rally of Argentina, the seventh round of the World Rally Championship, on May 22-25.