Radstrom lands Swedish Lancer

Radstrom will use a third car run by the Rugby-based Ralliart team, but he will be nominated for manufacturers' points alongside four-times world champion Tommi Makinen. Freddy Loix, the team's regular second driver, will thus only be eligible for drivers' points.

Radstrom has a contract with Citroen for 2001, including at least one world championship outing and testing work. But he is free to contest events for other teams, and his prodigious speed on the snowy Swedish roads made him an obvious target for Mitsubishi, which had always intended to run a third car on selected rallies this season.

"I am very excited about partnering Tommi and Freddy on my home rally," said
Radstrom. "It feels very good to be competing in a works car this year.
Tommi has won Sweden before and was second last year in the Mitsubishi, and
it will be my job to support the team in the Manufacturers' Championship. I
am really looking forward to it."

Mitsubishi team boss George Donaldson said: "The whole team is delighted to welcome Thomas and Tina on board. After the lottery which is Monte Carlo we want to maintain the strongest possible position in both Championships in Sweden. Thomas' experience will be invaluable to the team on such a fast and specialised event."

The deal is likely to come as yet another blow for Toni Gardemeister, who is desperately hunting for manufacturer work after his hopes of a Ford deal disappeared. His best hope for Sweden is now likely to rest on hiring a car, most likely a Grifone-run 206 or a Toyota Corolla WRC.