Rally New Zealand 1999
Sunday 18 July
COMMUNIQUE 5

MITSUBISHI SCORES CRUSHING VICTORY ON
RALLY NEW ZEALAND

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart driver Tommi Makinen has extended his lead in the 1999 FIA World Rally Championship by winning the ninth round, the Rally of New Zealand, in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. A highly satisfying week for Mitsubishi also yielded victory in Group N and more success in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship.

The last leg was run in mild, largely sunny conditions, attracting big crowds, but the stages south of Auckland were often muddy and Ford driver Thomas Radstrom slid off and retired.

It was a momentous win for Makinen, as it was the first time he has won in New Zealand and he is the only driver so far this season to have won three rallies. Co-driven by fellow Finn Risto Mannisenmaki, he was able to cruise through the last seven stages, having established a big lead in his Michelin-shod Lancer Evolution earlier in the rally.

" It’s an excellent result, very good indeed. We started very hard and built up a big lead. Since then we have had a relaxed drive. I felt quite confident yesterday, because I knew today’s stages well - they have not been so hard for the car. It will be nice to go to my home rally in Finland with this kind of result. It’s just incredible to have such a good lead in the World ChampionshipQuote ", Makinen declared.

Belgian colleagues Freddy Loix and Sven Smeets added to Mitsubishi’s total in the World Championship for Manufacturers with a well-paced drive in their Carisma GT. Loix brought the car home without a mark on it in conditions that outwitted plenty of much more experienced drivers.

"It’s a very nice rally. It has been very good to do it this year, because although the rally is very difficult, I have my pace notes now and that will be a big help in future. The car has been very good all the time", said Loix.

Mitsubishi maintained its perfect record in the Group N World Championship with its ninth victory in nine rallies this year. Lancer Evolutions collected the top three places, with Uruguay’s triple World Champion Gustavo Trelles leading home championship rival Hamed Al-Wahaibi of Oman and Japan’s Katsuhiko Taguchi.

"This has been a fantastic rally for us. New Zealand is good for Group N cars and the Mitsubishi has been perfect. This was an important win for us and I think it gives us a good chance to win the World Championship again", Trelles stated.

"I am very happy to come second. We could not beat Trelles this time - he was too fast for us - but I have learnt a lot about the rally in these wet conditions, I am pleased with our result", said Al-Wahaibi.

"We have not had so much luck in New Zealand in the past, so I am very happy to be third. Like Tommi, I think my results here are getting better. It is also important for us in the Asia-Pacific Championship. We are leading Group N and third in the championship overall", Taguchi said.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution driver Yoshihiro Kataoka continues to lead the Asia-Pacific Championship. Despite retiring when he slid into a ditch on the second leg, he shares the lead with New Zealander "Possum" Bourne.

"We’re delighted with the result. We felt our car would perform well if we had a trouble-free rally and here Tommi has been totally dominant. It’s a good win psychologically at this point and with some good rallies coming up it couldn’t be better", stated Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart team manager Phil Short.

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart’s next appearance will be the Rally Finland, the 10th round of the World Rally Championship, on August 22-25.

FINAL OVERALL CLASSIFICATION