Rallye de Portugal 1999
Sunday 21 March
COMMUNIQUE 2

MITSUBISHI CARISMA HOLDS SECOND ON RALLY OF PORTUGAL

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart has made an encouraging start to the Rally of Portugal, the fourth round of the 1999 FIA World Rally Championship, as Finnish Mitsubishi Carisma GT driver Marcus Gronholm is holding second place, with World Rally Championship leader Tommi Makinen fifth in a Mitsubishi Lancer and Mitsubishis holding the top seven places in Group N.

The rally started with a short but spectacular stage on the Baltar circuit near Porto, which the cars attempted two at a time. Tens of thousands of people thronged the twisty, dusty test, run in brilliant sunshine and warm temperatures, clinging to every vantage point and cheering their heroes. The rally promises to be one of the most competitive of the season, for no fewer than six manufacturers have entered four-wheel-drive cars with a chance of outright victory.

Finnish crew Marcus Gronholm and Timo Rautiainen put on a brilliant display on their first rally for Mitsbubishi, rocketing into second place in the Michelin-equipped Carisma GT, just tenths of a second behind the leader.

"It was a good start. We made no mistakes - it is easy to drive this car", reported Gronholm, who drove a Carisma for the first time the day before the rally.

Fellow Finns Tommi Makinen and Risto Mannisenmaki enjoyed a thrilling battle with Didier Auriol to take fifth place, under two seconds behind Gronholm and well placed to go on the attack on Monday.

"It was good fun. It’s a twisty track and we had a good battle, but it was a bit difficult with all the gravel and mud on the road", Makinen said.

"Obviously we’re pleased with the results so far, but it’s early days and we will get more of an idea of how the rally will develop on the longer stages tomorrow", commented Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart team manager Phil Short.

Mitsubishi has made a flying start in the Group N production class - the ultimate test of the showroom car - holding the top seven places after the first stage with a mixture of Lancer Evolutions and Carisma GTs. Austrian star Manfred Stohl is leading the way, but only four tenths of a second of talented Finn Jouko Puhakka, with Italian Gianluigi Galli third and Oman driver Hamed Al Wahaibi - the Group N victor for Mitsubishi on the recent Safari Rally - holding fourth.

"Naturally I’m pleased to be ahead. Of course it was only a short stage, but it’s always a good feeling if you are leading", Stohl said.

The first leg continues on Monday with another eight special stages, running close to the northern border with Spain, totalling a further 156 kilometres.