Neste Rally Finland 1999
Sunday 22 August
COMMUNIQUE 4

TOMMI MAKINEN MAINTAINS WORLD RALLY
CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD ON RALLY FINLAND

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart driver Tommi Makinen defended his season-long lead in the 1999 FIA World Rally Championship with two valuable points on the 10th round, the Rally Finland. Mitsubishi tasted yet more success with another resounding victory in the Group N production class, thanks to local talent Jouko Puhakka.

The final stage, televised live, was the highlight of the last leg, huge crowds flocking to the awesome Ruuhimaki test east of Jyvaskyla. While the Subaru drivers Juha Kankkunen and Richard Burns battled for overall victory with Toyota’s Carlos Sainz in largely dry conditions, Makinen had a chance to re-join the rally for the TV stage and score extra points under new rules for 1999, following his unlucky retirement the day before.

Makinen and co-driver Risto Mannisenmaki rose to the occasion magnificently, hurling the Michelin-shod Lancer Evolution through the last seven kilometres to set the second quickest time. As a result, Makinen collected two precious points.

"It was quite difficult running first. After a little break from driving - even one day - it is so difficult to find the right speed. The car was very good, but whenever you are out of the rally, it is nearly impossible to start again competing against drivers who have been driving all day and hope to score some points", Makinen stated.

Belgian crew Freddy Loix and Sven Smeets scored a top ten finish in their ultra-reliable Mitsubishi Carisma GT. It was a tough rally for them, given their limited previous experience of this highly specialised event.

"Road conditions have been quite tough today, because it gets rough after a few cars have been through the stages. It is good fun to drive on these really fast stages and I am pleased to get to the finish in the top ten", Loix explained.

In a crushing display of superiority in Group N, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions took the top nine places. Jouko Puhakka scored a convincing win over Finnish youngster Jani Paasonen and Austrian Manfred Stohl. Puhakka finished in a remarkable 11th place overall, having set 21 out of 23 fastest times in the category. With leader Gustavo Trelles and main challenger Hamed Al-Wahaibi failing to finish the event, the World Championship battle remains extremely exciting with four rallies remaining.

"It’s like a dream for me to win Group N at home. The car has been excellent and to be ahead of some manufacturer cars is unbelievable", Puhakka commented.

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart is already preparing for the 11th round of the World Rally Championship, the China Rally, which starts on September 16.

FINAL OVERALL CLASSIFICATION (PROVISIONAL)