RALLY: Telstra Rally Australia won by Subaru star Richard Burns
8 November 1999
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Telstra Rally Australia4-7th November 1997
Rd 13 (of 14), FIA World Rally Championship
Subaru star Richard Burns took his fourth World Rally win and his first in Australia when he beat home Carlos Sainz Toyota Castrol team and Mitsubishi driver Tommi Makinen this afternoon.
All three on the victory podium were celebrating. Burns his win, Sainz had by finishing second won the manufacturers crown and Makinen wrapped-up a fourth consecutive World Champion with his third.
Burns and Sainz engaged in a cut-throat battle over the last four stages at Bunnings and while Burns held the lead throughout his lead was a slight as one second at one point.
At the finish he held a 11.6sec gap over Sainz.
Makinen elected not to try and chase the leaders, opting to make sure of third all he needed to win the crown with one event still to run.
In the production car class Toshihiro Arai, Subaru, won by 50.1 sec from Australian Ed Ordynski, Mitsubishi, with Uwe Nittel third.
Kenneth Eriksson took out the the Two-litre class in his Hyundai Coupe and an amazing 9th place outright. He won by 30.7s from Martin Rowe, Renault, and Mark Higgins, Volkswagen.
Unofficial Outright
1 Burns Subaru Impreza 3:44:31.5
2 Sainz Toyota Corolla 3:44:43.1
3 Makinen Mitsubishi Lancer 3:49:02.9
4 Loix Mitsubishi Carisma 3:52:04.0
5 Gronholm Peugeot 206WRC 3:52:33.4
6 Rovanpera Seat Cordoba Evo II 3:52:44.3
7 Radstrom Ford Focus WRC 3:53:01.1
8 Arai Subaru Impreza 4:05:49.8
9 Eriksson Hyundai Coupe Evo II 4:05:58.4
10 Rowe Renault Megane 4:06:29.1
Group N
1 Arai Subaru Impreza 4:05:49.8
2 Ordynski Mitsubishi Lancer 4:06:39.9
3 Nittel Mitsubishi Lancer 4:07:03.9
2-Litre
1 Eriksson Hyundai Coupe Evo II 4:05:58.4
2 Rowe Renault Megane 4:06:29.1
3 Higgins Volkswagen Golf 4:10:28.5
Teams Cup
No finishers
Updated Championship Points
Drivers Championship:
Makinen 62
Auriol 52
Burns 45
Sainz 44
Kankkunen 38
McRae 23
Manufacturers Championship:
Toyota 109
Subaru 89
Mitsubishi 81
Ford 36
Seat 19
Peugeot 11
Skoda 3
Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.