Tommi Makinen

[ajrichar]

Howdy,
I have a question that I haven't found a satisfactory answer to.
Tommi had a stunning career with Mitsubishi, but apart from one victory at the 2002 Monte and a strong podium in Sweden, he never really showed the same form at Subaru.

I understand that he wanted a change from Mitsubishi (especially after their first Evo VII-based WRCar was a dud), but it seems he has totally turned his back on Mitsubishi. He runs Imprezas for his Group N cars, and he seems to be a favourite son of Subaru. Why is it, now he has retired, we do not perhaps see him embrace his Mitsubishi years?

I am probably not being clear here, but he had an astonishing run of success with Mitsubishi as we all know, and yet, I have not seen a single moment since he left them, and even since he retired, that he has made anything of his association with them. He even had the Makinen edition Evo VI road car named after him. McRae and Burns edition roadcar Imprezas were nowhere near as amazing or specialised models as the Makinen edition Evo VI.

My question is, why has Tommi not made more of his Mitsubishi years/association, even now he's retired?

PS: I might try and email SWRT throughout the year to push for a one-off Colin McRae drive in the Impreza at Rally GB! What a dream it would be seeing Colin back in the blue and gold, even for one event....

[tumbo]

Great idea about Gb Andrew, I was crushed in 04 when the RED Subaru deal fell through for Rally GB. Alister and Colin back as a team for the first time since 98 would have been sweet.

As for Makinen I have no clue. He felt disappointed and let down by Mitsubishi though with the WRC car. A lot of what I have read indicates that they left him out of development and where he tried to improve the car they just ignored his thoughts. Were it not for a few poor dice rolls I truly believe he could have won the 02 championship, just look at Argentina for example. needn't have pushed due to the cheating pugs (one time when I do believe they knew what they were doing) could have done a monte, consolodated and won easily. Further, his run of mechanical failures and difficulty in coping w/ the Pirellis. Would be interesting to know whether the atmosphere at subaru suited him better and what he could have achieved in the Mitsu w/ the Subaru atmosphere then?

[Mitch]

d**n. Colin McRae in a Scuby would be sweet. Anyone know who ran Meeke in GB this year. Colin should drive in 06.

In response to Tommi. Who knows. My brother has a soft spot for the Tommi Makinen edition Lancers. He did wnt a change but it is strange especially I feel that the Lancer ha a edge over Subaru in some ways. Lancer is more strong on tarmac. I haven't seen any entrants from him since he entered Chris Atkinson.

He should get Katjimaki and Latvala from the JWRC and run them in the PWRC in 06. Both would love that! Both Katjimaki and Latvala are lining up for Stobart seats in Ford so they would be hard to get hold of.

[wayno]

I thought that once he retired Subaru offered him quite a bit of help to run their cars in his own team.

[tumbo]

Wouldn't surprise me

[ajrichar]

I also remember hearing something about Subaru offering him assistance in setting up his own Gr. N team. I think he settled in well with Subaru. Petter loved him and he loved Petter (I have a Rally XS episode where they are larking about together before a rally and the genuinely got along really well together. I think David Lapworth loved having the experience and expertise that a 4 times World Champion offered in the development of the car, and that he provided a stable, happy and friendly atmosphere in the team.

But that still doesn't explain fully to me the break with Mitsubishi or why we never see any Tommi and Mitsubishi relationship at all.

*Regarding Colin in a Subaru, I would want him in a Works car in a one-off drive, much like Subaru did for Alister and Ari in the 1998 RAC. I think Colin would fit in immediately. The Impreza on Pirellis are made for the mud of Wales, and Colin proved in Rally Oz that he still has tremendous pace...