From the Net:
"Turbo" Tommi Antero Mäkinen (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈtommi ˈmækinen] is a now
retired Finnish rally driver, born in Puuppola, Finland near Jyväskylä on 26
June 1964. As of 1999 he lived in both Monaco and Jyväskylä, married, with two
children. Mäkinen is one of the most successful WRC drivers of all time, ranking
second in championships (4), tied with Juha Kankkunen and behind Sébastien Loeb
(7), and fifth in wins (24).
He is a four-time World Rally Champion, a series he first won, and then
successfully defended, continuously throughout 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999, on all
occasions driving the Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. He also aided
Mitsubishi to the 1998 world constructors' title as well as winning the 2000
Race of Champions. Mäkinen's navigators include compatriots Seppo Harjanne and
Risto Mannisenmäki, the former retiring from alongside Mäkinen having previously
served 1985 champion, and fellow 'Flying Finn', Peugeot's Timo Salonen.
He
proceeded to win every drivers' title for Mitsubishi from 1996 to 1999. The
Mitsubishi team, with the Finn and young Briton Richard Burns among its driver
personnel, also won its sole manufacturers' championship in 1998, while late
that same year, the licensed Tommi Mäkinen Rally video game was also released.
In 2000, despite opening his campaign with victory on the January Monte Carlo
Rally, Mäkinen finally relinquished his grasp on the title, being beaten in the
standings by new title holder and fellow Finn, Marcus Grönholm. That year
Mitsubishi produced a 'Tommi Mäkinen edition' of the road version of the Lancer
Evolution VI to commemorate his previous title successes. This car had a
different front bumper than the regular Evolution VI, while some models also
featured a red and white paint job to closely resemble Mäkinen's rally car.
Hi Resti,
ReplyDeleteDefinately is another superb Mit.Evo 6 rally legend by Tommi.
Great Collection.
Congratul...
Kin.
Hello Kin,
ReplyDeleteVery true, and the Mitsubishi lancer evos have become one of my favorite cars recently.
Thanks so much!!!