Defending world champion Tommi Makinen stretched his lead in this year's title race with victory in the Rally of Spain yesterday at Lloret de Mar.
Finland's Makinen, driving a Mitsubishi, finished seven seconds ahead of Italian Piero Liatti in his Subaru for his second consecutive win, following his success in the Rally of Portugal three weeks ago.
Makinen had started the final leg of the rally sharing the lead with Liatti. Over the first three stages, he built up a 10-second advantage. But on the penultimate stage, Liatti set the fastest time to bring the gap down to four seconds and set up a thrilling final stage, which Makinen completed three seconds faster.
Frenchman Gilles Panizzi brought the Peugeot team some consolation with a fine third-place finish.
Colin McRae finished in fourth place after matching the leaders for pace on the final day. His hopes for victory were ruined by a puncture on the eleventh stage after he had led the rally at the start of the second leg. Leading placings:
1, Tommi Makinen (Finland) Mitsubishi, 4hr, 8min, 46sec; 2, Piero Liatti (Italy) Subaru, 4-08.53; 3, Gilles Panizzi (France) Peugeot, 4-11.55; 4, Colin McRae (Britain) Subaru 4-12.20; 5, Angelo Medeghini (Italy) Subaru, 4-13:51; 6. Rui Madeira (Portugal) Subaru 4-15,12.
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