Tommi Out

rdjones · 1 Feb 2002, 14:36 (Ref:208160)

It has just been reported on Rally Radio, that Makinen is out, They have a reporter at the end of the stage and he has spoked to Loab and Saniz who said they was the car at the side of the stage, but Gronholm say's he did not see anything, more later.....

Liz · 1 Feb 2002, 15:18 (Ref:208170)

I'm not particularly unhappy to hear this news.

As long as Tommi is okay and Harri is still doing well!

==================

From Autosport.com

STOP PRESS: Makinen crashes out, Burns hits trouble too

Finn's rally ends in a snow bank

Tommi Makinen has retired

Tommi Makinen's Rally Sweden has come to an end on the opening day after the Finn ploughed into a snow bank on Special Stage Four.

The Subaru ace crashed nine kilometres into the stage, badly damaging the Impreza's radiator and cooling systems. The former world champion was lying well down in 19th at the time.

Meanwhile, reigning champ Richard Burns may have lost any chance of scoring points in his second event for Peugeot. The Englishman has plunged from 3rd place to 15th overall on the leaderboard at the end of stage three, after also suffering an incident with a snow bank.

Burns said that co-driver Robert Reid called a fast left minus in fourth gear just before the incident occured. "The back hit the bank and the front went into the snowbank," said Burns. "I floored it in fourth gear, it nearly stopped but then the car pulled out of the ditch. It only cost us about 10 seconds."

However the front of the car was filled with snow, adding to the Peugeot pairing's drama. "The engine temperature went very high so we had to stop to clear the radiator. That cost us another 45 secs," explained Burns.

However it wasn't over then either. "The air intake was blocked so we didn't have full power for another 10 kms."

Burns finished the stage with a time of 22m18.6s, just under a minute and a half slower than his team-mate Harri Rovanpera who set the fastest time.

HARRI! HARRI! HARRI!

KC · 1 Feb 2002, 16:18 (Ref:208196)

Looks like McRae is the only non-ice/snow expert in the top 5. Good on him!

Speedworx · 1 Feb 2002, 22:18 (Ref:208588)

Colin will not win. Harri will (I hope)

R · 1 Feb 2002, 22:27 (Ref:208605)

Tommi is out, but not before he was completely out-classed by team-mate Petter Solberg on the opening stages...

**touringlegend** · 1 Feb 2002, 23:22 (Ref:208654)

Might be evil to say this but Tommi's out, that gives Colin McRae a chance to catch him up on the points front!

Liz · 2 Feb 2002, 02:52 (Ref:208702)

So, er, nobody actually likes Tommi?

**touringlegend** · 2 Feb 2002, 11:31 (Ref:208805)

Maybe there's no Tommi fans here. Maybe cos he's Finnish, he appears boring and lacking character, wherea McRae was the one who had a war of words with Burns last year.

That's how he's my Press Officer in Fantasy CART. Knows what to say.

Kalevi · 2 Feb 2002, 14:54 (Ref:208937)

I think Tommi has shown his true character through his driving: 4 times world champion, 24 wins. Driving is the job he's been hired to do, right?

Speedworx · 2 Feb 2002, 19:22 (Ref:209090)

My favourite driver is Tommi Makinen. Colin isn't going to win. It looks like Gronholm will.

Loix (broken foot) could get a points finish.

Liz · 4 Feb 2002, 17:55 (Ref:210259)

I'm glad the poor 4 time champ has a few fans anyway (I am not necessarily one of them though.)

Not all Finns are boring -- Harri is incoherent but he sounds very enthusiastic!

But does Grunholm ever blink?

Old Hairpin · 8 Feb 2002, 20:50 (Ref:212597)

Makinen is the best out there, the only reason he retired in sweden was that he started first on the stage and it was covered in way too much snow so he was forced to act snowplough. he had no chance. otherwise it would have been a battleroyale with gronholm, the only other driver of tommis ability. all the rest suckass
if your idea of a topdriver is someone who *****es about other drivers like a gimp and then crashes every other rally then fair enough, tommi isnt for you...

Speedworx · 8 Feb 2002, 21:51 (Ref:212699)

Makinen is the best out there.

Alpina · 9 Feb 2002, 01:08 (Ref:212804)

Why is it that when a someone becomes a top sportsman they are supposed to become a great spokesman, comedian, charity worker etc as well? Tommi is a fantastic driver, a decent bloke and a ****-hot ploughman as well. Give the guy his due. He certainly has earned it. However I want to see Alastair get a win this year.

SJ Spode · 11 Feb 2002, 12:49 (Ref:214029)

Good point Alpina; Tommi's success has been behind the wheel, not the mic. Also you've got to remember that rallying's international language is English; and it would be interesting to see the others cope if they all had to speak in Finnish.

The important thing is his record (4 championships speaks for itself), also how fast he adapted to the Subaru in Monte Carlo. I think he'll be up there battling for the title at the end of the season

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