Mitsubishi leave Lapland for Christmas!

The Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart team completed their final test of the year in Lapland, Northern Finland - the home of Santa Claus, in preparation for the 2001 Swedish Rally.

Based in Rovaniemi, just below the Arctic Circle, and in temperatures around minus 15C, the team completed approx. 800 kilometres during six days of testing, which began with Finnish test driver Lasse Lampi, while four-times World Rally Champion Tommi Makinen took over for the final two days.

Mitsubishi leave Lapland for Christmas!

The Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart team completed their final test of the year in Lapland, Northern Finland - the home of Santa Claus, in preparation for the 2001 Swedish Rally.

Based in Rovaniemi, just below the Arctic Circle, and in temperatures around minus 15C, the team completed approx. 800 kilometres during six days of testing, which began with Finnish test driver Lasse Lampi, while four-times World Rally Champion Tommi Makinen took over for the final two days.

Following a successful testing debut for the revised Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution/Carisma GT in France early in December, it was time to focus on adapting the car for the only true snow rally in the Championship - Sweden.

The team, led by senior engineer Olivier Maroselli and engineer Phil Roach, concentrated on the modifications made to the Mitsubishi's rear wheel arches and suspension.

"Basically we have just continued the suspension and set-up work which began at the Monte test," said Olivier Maroselli. "The new rear suspension package gives us better balance, softer setting options and less 'bottoming out'. Obviously when you make a big change at the rear you have to set up the front, the diffs and everything else accordingly. Overall the car is definitely better and more efficient."

"It is feeling good, especially this new rear suspension," added Tommi. "I cannot really compare the performance with last year's car but it certainly has good balance. I am looking forward to next season very much. We have number seven on the car next year and we will try to make it number one again. That is the only target."

Tommi Makinen and co-driver Risto Mannisenmaki took a break from testing when Santa Claus paid them a surprise visit; Makinen and Mr Claus comparing their preferred modes of transport - the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and a reindeer and sleigh...

Thirty-six year old Makinen will test the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution just before the 2001 FIA World Rally Championship opener, the Monte Carlo Rally (19-21 January), at a two-day confirmation test before the recce as he prepares for his third Monte victory in a row.

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