Swedish Rally: End of Leg 1

The International Swedish Rally 1999 Official Site: http://www.swerally.se Round 2 of the 1999 FIA World Rally Championship 12-14 February 1999 Results of Leg 1 Makinen and Sainz battled each throughout today but after 8 stages, Makinen...

Added: 13/02/1999 12:19

The International Swedish Rally 1999 Official Site: http://www.swerally.se Round 2 of the 1999 FIA World Rally Championship 12-14 February 1999

Results of Leg 1

Makinen and Sainz battled each throughout today but after 8 stages, Makinen was the winner and leads the Swedish Rally by 2 seconds!

Many drivers are commenting on how slippery the stages are, but as Swedish star, Thomas Radstrom describes: "Of course it is slippery, it usually is in the winter time ...!". Almost all drivers though are complaining about lack of traction and tyre/stud choice has been critical. There is also a shortage of snow in some areas and quite a few drivers have had off road excursions although there are only a few retirements. Radstrom went off in SS3 at 150km/hr doing some damage to the front end; Sebastian Lindholm retired on SS3 after ripping a wheel and suspension out; McRae hit a snowpole and broke the windscreen and then went into a ditch on the next stage; Kankkuknen went off on SS6.

Mitsubishi: Makinen is driving flat out and only slowing in places where the snow is thin so as not to do damage to the studs. Loix is 'havin fun' and learning - this is his first time on the Swedish stages.

Toyota: Sainz is driving flat out and Auriol about 90% and is not taking many risks.

Ford: Radstrom has stalled the car on the start line 3 times but it is otherwise handling well. Before he went off in SS4, he had lost a driveshaft. McRae lost 1 minute in SS4 after going off, Drivers still learning about the new Focus about about tyres for Sweden. Subaru: Kankkunen, Burns and Thiry are all struggling with a lack of grip from their tyres and are driving accordingly.

Seat had a very unfortunate day - the engine in Marcus Gronholm's Seat WRC gave up after SS1 and he was forced to retire. Also Harri Rovanpera sufferred fuel pressure problemsand did SS2 (a 30km stage) with a maximum speed of 60km/hr only. Although the problem is fixed, he is well out of contention.

Hyundai - Kenneth Eriksson has a solid 35 second lead in Formula 2.

Seven times winner of the Swedish Rally, Stig Blomqvist went off the road in SS3 and has retired.

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Unofficial results and of Leg 1:

1 Makinen     Mit Lancer Evo VI 1:15:35,7
2 Sainz                Toyota Corolla        1:15:37,4
3 Radstrom        Ford Focus        1:15:57,4
4 Auriol        Toyota Corolla        1:16:10,9
5 McRae                Ford Focus        1:17:32,8
6 Burns                Subaru Imprza        1:18:02,6
7 Kankkunen        Subaru Impreza        1:18:03,0
8 Hagstrom        Toyota Corolla        1:18:32,1
9 Thiry        Subaru         Impreza                1:19:45,5
10 Solbery        Ford Escort WRC        1:20:11,4

Formula 2:

1 Walfridsson        Mit Lancer Evo IV        1:21:03,9
2 Puhakka        Mit Lancer Evo IV        1:21:07,1
3 Paasonen        Mit Carisma GT                1:22:07,3

Group N:

1 Eriksson        Hyundai Coupe                1:22:04,3
2 Svan                Opel Astra Kit Car        1:22:40,3
3 A.McRae        Hyundai Coupe                1:22:49,7

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Stage Winners: SS1 - Carlos Sainz, Toyota Corolla WRC SS2 - Tommi Makinen, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI SS3 - Tommi Makinen, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI SS4 - Carlos Sainz, Toyota Corolla WRC SS5 - Thomas Radstom, Ford Focus SS6 - Carlos Sainz, Toyota Corolla WRC SS7 - Carlos Sainz, Toyota Corolla WRC SS8 - Tommi Makinen, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI

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SS 1 Malta, 11.88km