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Rallye Catalunya: Bugalski wins

23 April 1999

1999 Rallye Movistar Catalunya - Costa Brava
Round 5 of the 1999 FIA World Rally Championship

Philippe Bugalski & Jean-Paul Chiaroni in a Formula 2 Citroen Xsara Kit Car have won the 1999 Rallye Catalunya by just over 30 seconds from Didier Auriol and Tommi Makinen. "I tried to go as fast as I could to make things difficult for the Toyota cars" said Bugalski as he took 2 stage wins.

Auriol was the first of the WRC cars home. "We attacked hard using the whole road but without taking too many risks. It was just not possible to catch Bugalski" said Didier.

Carlos Sainz had a terrible day. After starting in 3rd position he had two punctures during the day, the second of which damaged the alternator belt and after a short time he lost power and he retired on the liason from the end of the final stage to rally finish. "There is nothing more to say, luck has again not been on our side. We went from third to nowhere," said Carlos.

Makinen passed Loix and as Sainz dropped down the list, he finished in 3rd place. "This has been a tough rally this year and I am very pleased to get third place, especially after we got this one-minute penalty when they said we jumped the start. The car and the team have been really good", Makinen declared.

Belgians Freddy Loix and Sven Smeets richly deserved their fourth place and their first points for Mitsubishi after a brave drive since their big Safari crash in February. "My experience on asphalt with the Mitsubishi is not very great, so taking everything together, I am happy with the result, but we have to keep our feet on the ground and find some more speed", Loix stated.

Colin McRae was withdrawn by Ford last night as their testing was complete and they now work for Corsica.

Luis Climent won the Teams Cup for the Valencia Terra Mar Team. "We are very satisfied with the Rallye we made. We have been marking times similar to Kankkunen's. Therefore I can only make a wonderful evaluation of the Rallye. The difference in budgets does not let us end in a better position" said Luis.

Unofficial final results:

1 Bugalski Citroen Xsara 4:13:45,6
2 Auriol Toyota Corolla 4:14:17,4
3 Sainz Toyota Corolla 4:16:06,7
4 Loix Mit Carimsa 4:16:21,0
5 Makinen Mit Lancer Evo VI 4:17:47,5
6 Burns Subaru Impreza 4:18:32,9
7 Kankkunen Subaru Impreza 4:18:46,9
8 Thiry Subaru Impreza 4:19:34,3
9 Gomez Renault Maxi Megane 4:20:14,4
10 Climent Subaru Impreza 4:20:53,0

Group N:

1 Al Wahaibi Mit Lancer 4:36:18,3
2 Manfrinato Mit Lancer 4:36:41,2
3 Trelles Mit Lancer Evo V 4:39:21,8


Formula 2:

1 Bugalski Citroen Xsara 4:13:45,6 
2 Gomez Renault Maxi Megane 4:19:34,3
3 Monzon Peugeot 3O6 Maxi 4:26:52,5


Teams Cup:

1 Valencia Terra Mar Team 
  Luis Climent Subaru (GrpA) 4:20:53,0
2 Toyota Team Saudi 
  Abdhullah Bakashab Corolla (GrpA) 4:26:58,8
3 Team Mitsubishi Oman 
  Hamed Al Wahaibi Lancer (GrpN) 4:36:18,3
4 Winfield World Rally Team 
  Michael Guest Subaru (GrpN) 4:46:22,0

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Stage Winners:

SS15 - Makinen, SS16 - Makinen, SS17 - Bugalski, 
SS18 - Bugalski, SS19 - Auriol

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SS 15,  COLL DE SANTIGOSA 10.62km

Notes: 


Stage Pos/ Driver/ Car/ Stage Time:

1 Makinen Mit Lancer Evo VI 6:49,2
2 Sainz Toyota Corolla 6:52,5
3 Bugalski Citroen Xsara 6:52,6
4 Burns Subaru Impreza 6:54,1
5 Auriol Toyota Corolla 6:54,6

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