MARLBORO MITSUBISHI RALLIART WELL PLACED
ON MONTE CARLO RALLY

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart is challenging for the lead after the first leg of the Monte Carlo Rally, the first round of the 1999 World Rally Championship, thanks to a magnificent performance from Finland's Tommi Makinen in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Makinen currently lies in second place.

Conditions could hardly have been more difficult when triple World Champion Makinen led the way on the first stages on Monday morning. Although heavy rain had washed away much of the snow, there were plenty of patches of ice to catch out the unwary and good tyre choice was critical.

Huge crowds witnessed the spectacle, climbing the snowbanks and thronging sleepy Alpine villages on a mild, sunny day. Treacherous conditions outwitted many, including Toyota driver Carlos Sainz, who crashed into a telegraph pole.

Makinen and co-driver Risto Mannisenmaki exploited the Lancer Evolution and Michelin's latest rubber to build up an advantage of more than 45 seconds on the very first stage until they encountered a brake problem that dropped them to second place.

"It was frustrating to have this problem, but generally the car is working well and I am very confident. We can win here I am sure," said Makinen.

Belgian newcomers Freddy Loix and Sven Smeets were unlucky to retire their Mitsubishi Carisma GT when they were caught out on an icy corner and slid off the road on the first stage, damaging the radiator.

"Everything was going well until that point and we had really no problems at all. Sometimes you need a bit of luck," Loix said.

"Tommi has driven exceptionally well today. We're disappointed that Freddy has had to retire, but that is part of rallying. We're very much in the hunt – you can never be sure what will happen on such a lottery of a rally," commented Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart team manager Phil Short.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions and Carisma GTs traditionally dominate the Group N production class and have taken a grip on the first four places, with Belgian Marc Duez leading Corsican star Yves Loubet.

Subaru driver Juha Kankkunen is in third position over a minute behind Makinen. Italian Piero Liatti driving a Seat WRC is currently fourth. The new Ford Focus driven by former World Champion Colin McRae lies just in the point in sixth on its WRC debut.

Tomorrow's route takes competitors through some of the rally's most difficult stages before they return to Monaco where they can expect a mixture of snow and rain. They will tackle five stages, totalling 154 kilometres.

Leg 2 - Monday 18 January