INTERNATIONAL SWEDISH RALLY (11-14 February) 1999 FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 2

Swedish Rally 1999
Friday 12 February
COMMUNIQUE 2

MITSUBISHI LANCER LEADS SWEDISH RALLY

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart has made an excellent start to the Swedish Rally, the second round of the 1999 FIA World Rally Championship, as flying Finn Tommi Makinen in his Lancer Evolution leads Carlos Sainz by almost two seconds.

Competitors have faced a typical Swedish dilemma during the first leg of the rally, north-west of Karlstad. The temperature has barely dipped below zero in bright, sunny conditions and with little snow, picking the right tyres with the right length of studs has been crucial. Mitsubishi’s drivers have profited through their partnership with Michelin. Makinen has fought a thrilling duel with Toyota driver Sainz and third-placed Ford driver Thomas Radstrom. In contrast, Subaru has experienced tyre trouble and Seat driver Marcus Gronholm retired with fuel system problems.

World Rally Champion and double Swedish winner Makinen, co-driven by Risto Mannisenmaki, was delighted with his car, but less pleased with his own driving at first and reckoned he lost a little time by running first on the road sweeping away the loose. He has nevertheless led for most of the leg as he bids for his third Swedish win for Mitsubishi.

"It has been a hard day today but I am pleased with everything" said Mäkinen. "This is a very fast rally. Driving over a crest at over 200 km/h with no snow-banks – even I get scarred."

"The driving is fine. It is the roads which are a problem. But is has been great fun today. I hope to learn a little bit all the time and finish the event." said Loix.

"It’s been a very satisfying day. Tommi has done well and he has been very happy with the car and the tyres. Although he has not been able to break away, he’s in a good position to attack tomorrow. Freddy’s had a good day too. He’s done exactly what we wanted and his times are quite respectable," said team manager Phil Short.

Mitsubishis are thrilling the crowds in the Group N production category as well, with Lancer Evolutions and Carisma GTs holding four of the top five places. Local hero Stig-Olov Walfridson is just a handful of seconds in front of rising Finn Jouko Puhakka with another Mitsubishi Finn Jani Paasonen, holding third.

The second leg could be the toughest of the rally. It includes just six stages between Karlstad and Borlange, but they total 142 kilometres and one of them is the longest of the rally at 47 kilometres.