Rally: Round 9 of the 1999 FIA World Rally Championship, New Zealand
14 July 1999
Welcome back to the FIA World Rally Championship after a well earned break. The WRC now heads south to New Zealand and the rally represents a major turning point in the championship. For drivers such as Colin McRae, Richard Burns and even Carlos Sainz, the rally is crucial as a poor result means that their hopes of winning the drivers championship are effectively over. Makinen currently leads the drivers championship by 4 points from Auriol and the Rally of Finland, Makinen's favourite (and his most successful) event follows New Zealand.The Rally of New Zealand starts this Thursday (15th) with a 2.1km Super Special stage at Manukau City. 401km of competitive stages are then held over the 3 days with the rally finish on Sunday in Manukau at 15.30 local time. (New Zealand is GMT +12, CET +10)
In last years Rally of New Zealand, drivers faced extremely wet and muddy conditions but this year all at the event will be pleased to know that the forecast is currently for partly cloudy but otherwise fine conditions. The stages are very similar to those in Finland - they are fast and flowing with a light wet gravel and have cambered corners.
Malboro Mitsubishi Ralliart
http://www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp/motorsports
Mitsubishi have entered championship leader Tommi Makinen and Freddy Loix. Makinen has never won here before but is looking to securing his championship lead. "I am sure it will be a very good rally for me. We had a good result last year, coming third in spite of some little problems, so I don't see any reason why we can't do very well," Makinen promised.
Loix has not competed in New Zealand before but is confident of an excellent result after a recent win at the Ypres Westhoek Rally, a part of the European Championship..
Toyota Castrol Team
http://www.tte.de
Toyota have been very successful in past years at the Rally of New Zealand and Carlos Sainz has won 4 times, each time in a Toyota. Sainz currently lies 3rd in the drivers championship behind Auriol who is only 4 points behind Makinen. Toyota are also looking to increase their lead in the Manufacturers championship.
Carlos Sainz: "Without doubt this is one of the best events in the championship for me. I have won four times, and it is a rally I enjoy very much - along with Finland, the roads are the best in the world for a rally driver. There are no stones, bumps or holes in the roads so you can just concentrate on driving flat-out and looking ahead at the conditions.
Didier Auriol: The rally now has a lot more stages that are faster in nature than before. I dont know particularly why, but the Toyota Corolla is good in New Zealand. We need to get points there because it will be very hard to beat Tommi Makinen in Finland next month.
Toyota are also entering their test driver 1997 German Rally Champion - Matthias Kahle in a third Castrol-supported Corolla WRC. Kahle's car was actually damaged in transport on the way to New Zealand when the sea freighter encountered gale force winds and a new car had to be sent from the TTE base.
Ford Martini World Rally Team
http://www.fordracing.net
Colin McRae won his first ever WRC event at New Zealand in 93 and then went on the win in 94 and 95 as well. With a new car for this event he hopes to win again.
McRae: "The gravel roads are smooth and flowing, real drivers stages and the type you can really get your teeth into. If you can develop the right rhythm from the start, you reach the finish on a real high. In terms of the championship, we really need a victory here. It wont mean the drivers title is beyond us if we dont win but with just six rounds remaining we need to close the gap on those ahead of us in the points table. (McRae lies in fourth)
Thomas Rdstrm will use the Focus that Colin drove in Greece and is out to secure valuable points for Ford.
Subaru World Rally Team
http://www.swrt.com
Subaru have done substantial testing during recent events and the results from the past 2 events prove this. The fly by wire transmission has reduced gear shift time by approximately two-thirds and the suspension has been revamped. Richard Burns particularly has some catching up to do and a point to prove.
Burns: "I won the last event in Greece, so I suspect everybody - from Tommi to Carlos - should really be looking out for me!"
Juha Kankkunen: "Subaru has made so much progress over the past couple of rallies. Now it is very important that we maintain our winning form, especially on the rallies that suit us, so we can make a strong challenge as we get down to the last handful of events this year".
Bruno Thiry is not competing in New Zealand, but will drive in place of Kankkunen at San Remo (Rd 11). Bruno is a reknowned tarmac specialist.
Seat Sport
http://seat-sport.seat.es
In the recent Channel Four Rally in Finland, Harri Rovanpera won by over 30seconds in the new Evo II Seat Cordoba from Juha Kankkunen in the Impreza WRC. The Evo II is not yet homologated but will be seen at the Rally of Finland later in the year and if this win is anything to go by it will make the WRC even more competitive.
Rovanpera will be competing in NZ with 24 year old team mate Toni Gardemeister. This will be Gardemeister first rally in the SEAT Cordoba WRC and his aim is to drive fast, but quite carefully. Rovanpera however is out to give the current Cordoba a top result on its final event.
Rovanpera: "I like New Zealand a lot. It's a very good rally because the stages are so nice to drive. They are quite fast and flowing and the camber of the roads allows you to maintain a good speed through the corners. It's important to be smooth and fast, and I think the power ofthe SEAT engine and the Cordoba chassis will be perfect for this event.
Hyundai
http://www.hyundaiwrc.com
The Hyundai World Rally Team heads to the 1999 Rally New Zealand with high hopes of notching up another one/two victory in the FIA 2-litre World Cup for Manufacturers, to further close the gap to category leaders, Renault.
This event also marks lead driver, Kenneth Eriksson's 100th rally on the world stage, making him only the fourth driver to achieve his century, following Juha Kankunnen, Carlos Sainz and Didier Auriol.
Volkswagen Motorsport
VW's hopes lie with Australian's Simon and Sue Evans who are expected to very competitive in outright F2 despite driving last years model Golf.
Past Winners of the Rally of New Zealand
1998 Carlos Sainz/Luis Moya Toyota Corolla WRC 1997 Kenneth Eriksson/Staffan Parmander Subaru Impreza 555 1996 Richard Burns/Robert Reid Mitsu. Lancer Evo III 1995 Colin McRae/Derek Ringer Subaru Impreza 555 1994 Colin McRae/Derek Ringer Subaru Impreza 555 1993 Colin McRae/Derek Ringer Subaru Legacy RS 1992 Carlos Sainz/Luis Moya Toyota Celica Turbo4WD 1991 Carlos Sainz/Luis Moya Toyota Celica GT-Four 1990 Carlos Sainz/Luis Moya Toyota Celica GT-Four 1989 Ingvar Carlsson/Per Carlsson Mazda 323 4WD 1988 Josef Haider/Ferdinand Hinterleitner Opel Kadett GSI
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