Rallye Sanremo 1999
Tuesday 12 October
COMMUNIQUE 3

MAKINEN AND LOIX READY TO STRIKE
ON SANREMO RALLY

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart driver Tommi Makinen has an excellent chance of repeating last year’s victory on Italy’s Sanremo Rally, thanks to a scintillating performance on the second leg in his Lancer Evolution. On a good day for Mitsubishi, team-mate Freddy Loix is also in the points holding fifth position in his Carisma GT. Mitsubishi continues to dominate the Group N production category.

The second leg has taken competitors to the eastern part of Liguria, with difficult, narrow stages in the mountains. Centred around the Acqui Terme service park, large crowds have thronged the stages to catch a glimpse of the action. A tough day has caused plenty of problems and retirements included Subaru driver Richard Burns and Colin McRae, who crashed his Ford.

Tommi Makinen and Risto Mannisenmaki have been consistent pacesetters in their ultra-reliable Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution taking four of the day’s eight fastest stage times. They have been able to put real pressure on the leading Peugeots, although they were unlucky to lose a few seconds when they bent a wheel on the 12th stage.

"It was good day except when we made this stupid mistake and ended up with a bent wheel. I shall keep fighting these Peugeots and of course we are in front of Didier Auriol, which is the most important thing for the World Rally Championship. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but I will try to do what I can", Makinen said.

Freddy Loix and fellow Belgian Sven Smeets have rocketed from 10th place overnight to fifth in their Michelin-shod Carisma GT, boosting Mitsubishi’s chances in the World Rally Championship for Manufacturers.

"Today has been a great day for myself and Sven. I am very happy to be in fifth place. We are in a position where we don’t need to take risks any more. Today we have concentrated on trying to find a good set-up for my driving style and the car keeps getting better and better. We have had no problems at all", commented Loix.

Mitsubishi has continued to dominate Group N, with Italy’s Gianluigi Galli building up a comfortable lead over fellow countryman Mario Stagni. Austria’s Manfred Stohl is third in another Mitsubishi and Uruguayan Gustavo Trelles is consolidating his World Rally Championship lead with a well-judged drive to fourth place.

The third and final leg returns to the Ligurian Alps, near to Sanremo. The six stages total 111 kilometres, including two runs on the longest stage of the event, the 40-kilometre Monte Ceppo test.

OVERALL CLASSIFICATION AFTER LEG 2