Bad luck in Finland for Subaru and Pirelli

Juha Kankkunen drove the only one Subaru Impreza WRC2000 to the end of the Finland Rally. One SS scratch and some very interesting SS times promoted Kankkunen (who had been slowed down during Leg 2 by a wheel problem) into a scoring position for Subaru-Pirelli. Although Marcus Gronholm, winner in Finland, has now taken the drivers' championship lead, Subaru-Pirelli's Richard Burns can for sure complain about the accident which stopped him at the beginning of Leg 2 when he was 2nd and extremely close to the lead, but remains confident that the next few events can see him return to the top of the championship points table.

For the whole event the Subarus were fitted with Pirelli's K and KM tyres of the PZero gravel range, always providing superb performance and no problem.

Third place in Group N on this event saw Mitsubishi-Pirelli driver Manfred Stohl extend his lead in the FIA World Rally Championship for Production Cars ahead of reigning champion Gustavo Trelles (also Mitsubishi-Pirelli)

FINAL STANDINGS (after 23 SSs):

1. Gronholm (Peugeot), 3h22m37.1; 2. McRae (Ford) +1m06.2; 3. Rovanpera (Toyota) +1m09.6; 4. Makinen (Mitsubishi) +1m38.7; 5. Lindholm (Peugeot) +3m06.0; 6. Delecour (Peugeot) +5m05.0 ; 7. Hagstrom (Toyota) +5m16.5; 8. Kankkunen (Subaru-Pirelli) +5m52.9; . . .

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (after 9 events)

Drivers:
1. Gronholm pt.44; 2. Burns 38; 3. McRae 36; 4. Sainz 27; 5. Makinen 26; 6. Kankkunen 18; 7. Rovanpera 7; 8. Solberg 6; 9. Auriol, Loix, Arai and Delecour 4; 13. Gardemeister and Radstrom 3

Manufacturers:
1. Ford pt.63; 2. Subaru-Pirelli 60; 3. Peugeot 54; 4. Mitsubishi 33; 5. Skoda 8; 6. SEAT-Pirelli 7; 7. Hyundai 5

Group N:
1. Stohl pt.45; 2. Trelles 32; 3. Paasonen 21; 4. Pozzo 16; 4. Campos 13; 4. Menzi e Pykalisto 12; . . .

NEXT WORLD CHAMP. EVENT:

Cyprus (gravel), 7-10 September

JYVASKYLA (Finland), August 20, 2000