UK: RALLYING: TOMMI MAKINEN'S WORLD TITLE HOPES THREATENED BY ILLNESS.

Record ID: 215350

  • Title: UK: RALLYING: TOMMI MAKINEN'S WORLD TITLE HOPES THREATENED BY ILLNESS.
  • Date: 14th November 1998
  • Summary: SILVERSTONE, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 14, 1998) 1. SILVERSTONE SIGN 2. WIDE OF ENTRANCE TO SILVERSTONE 3. MITSUBISHI CAR TESTING ON TRACK 4. C/U OF MAKINEN'S CAR 5. MAKINEN'S CAR IN GARAGE 6. PHIL SHORT, MITSUBISHI TEAM BOSS SAYING: "YES AT THE END OF THE AUSTRALIA RALLY HE STARTED TO FEEL A LITTLE BIT UNWELL. HE WAS PRE
  • Embargoed: 29th November 1998 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SILVERSTONE, ENGLAND, UK
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVA5RMZK261X0MNCSR1YIIF2YGJR
  • Story Text: World rally champion Tommi Makinen's attempt to win
    the title for the third straight year is threatened by illness
    a week before the final rally of the season.

    Makinen missed a Mitsubishi practice session at
    Silverstone circuit on Friday (November 13) and is fighting an
    infection.

    The Network Q/RAC rally around Britain runs from November
    21-24 and will decide the 1998 championship.

    A win brings 10 points and a second six points.Makinen
    has 58 points, two points ahead of Carlos Sainz after the
    Australian Rally.It is the first time the Finn has led the
    championship table all year.

    Mitsubishi team boss Phil Short said the Finnish driver
    started feeling ill at the last rally in Australia."I
    understand he's got a bacterial infection.It's not a virus
    such as he had last year."
    But Short reassured fans that Makinen's doctor is
    confident the champion will recover in time.He said Makinen
    was resting, and the team was confident he would line up for
    the rally around Britain.

    The world champion has never won the RAC rally, while
    Sainz has -- twice before in 1990 and 1992.Subaru driver
    Colin McRae has won it three times before, and was last year's
    victor.

    The Manufacturers championship is also undecided and
    Makinen's absence could have a major bearing on the outcome.

    Toyota lead with 85 points, only four ahead of
    Mitsubishi.


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