Makinen to demo R4 Impreza in Finland

24th July 2011

By Giles Wade

Multiple world champion Tommi Makinen will get back behind the wheel of a rally car on Wednesday.

The Finnish legend, 47, will demonstrate an R4-specification Subaru Impreza on a test stage at his family farm close to his preparation company’s base in Puuppola near Jyvaskyla, where his country’s round of the world championship will take place from July 28-30.

Makinen, who claimed four world drivers’ title between 1996-1999, hasn’t competed since 2003 and has instead concentrated on establishing a successful rally team.

His squad will run PG Andersson in an R4 Impreza on Rally Finland, the car’s first appearance in the WRC, albeit its second outing on an international gravel event following Toshi Arai and Fumio Nutahara’s appearances on Sata Rallye Acores earlier this month.

Although the Japanese veterans struggled to make an impact on the island event, they were both recognised the car’s potential.

“I like the car a lot,” said Nutahara, who finished 11^th overall. “It feels more lightweight than the Mitsubishi [I used to drive] with very good handling and fast cornering speed.”

After being delayed by an electrical failure on day two in the Azores Arai added: “It was quite a difficult rally with the weather and with some small problems but generally we didn’t have any big problems. I think we can make more improvements before my next rally in Hungary where I will try even harder.”