MARLBORO MITSUBISHI LANCER LEADS MONTE CARLO RALLY
WHILE CARISMA GT TOPS GROUP N

Tommi Makinen and Risto Mannisenmaki, in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, currently lead the Rally of Monte Carlo after leg three. The World Rally Champion’s have an amazing one minute forty five seconds advantage over the French pairing of Gilles and Herve Panizzi with one day of the rally remaining.

As the teams moved south from the overnight halt in Gap to Monaco, Mäkinen pushed hard setting the fastest time on the seventh stage to take the lead. His closest rival Panizzi, in a Subaru, lost time opting for studed tyres on a dry road. His bad luck continued when he stalled his engine on stage eight.

Tommi Makinen said "I am pleased with my drive today but it was not easy, it’s so unpredictable. It would be great to win my first Monte Carlo rally tomorrow - that’s the plan. Hopefully I will not need to push too hard but I will be watching the other times closely"

"Understandably, Tommi took it easy on the first stage today because he retired there last year. After that he overtook Panizzi and has now built up a comfortable lead. He is relaxed at the moment but we need to be wary of the changeable conditions tomorrow," commented Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart team manager Phil Short.

The snow covered mountains of southern France welcomed many spectators before the run down to the Mediterranean coast in Monaco. The asphalt stages threw up many challenges for the crews and tyre choice was again critical. Michelin technicians and the team’s ice note crews analysed the conditions on every competitive stage before making vital decisions at the last possible moment.

Overnight Juha Kankkunen lies in third position in a Subaru followed by Colin McRae driving a Ford Focus on its rally debut. The Focus is competing under an appeal but it could score a decisive podium finish for the Scotsman. Toyota and Seat are just out of the points in seventh and eighth positions respectively.

In the group N competition, Belgian Marc Duez in a Mitsubishi Carisma GT leads Gustavo Trelles by over 4 minutes in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Frenchman Christophe Arnaud lies in third position in a Subaru.

The final day of the rally features four special stages totalling 109 kilometres. Competitors will repeat the two stages from Sospel and Lantosque finishing in Monaco at 14.12 hrs (CET).

Leg 3 - Tuesday 19 January