Tommi Makinen Q&A
Rallying superstar Tommi Makinen made a rare appearance at an F1 event when he turned up on the very soggy Sunday of the Belgian GP meeting. The Finn was a guest of Marlboro and Ferrari, but as well as saying hello to Michael Schumacher and Jean Todt he also made a pilgrimage to see countryman Mika Hakkinen. While Mika is now on track to earn his third consecutive title, Makinen's chances of winning a fifth seem to be receding. After his home event he lies fifth in the WRC table, 18 points behind leader Marcus Gronholm. However, five rounds remain on the schedule, and with 50 points up for grabs he still has a chance. Adam Cooper spoke to the Mitsubishi ace
"Last year at Hockenheim. I've always gone to Monaco, but this year there was no time because we had to be in Greece at the same time."
"It's a completely different world. Everything is in the same area, and the circuit goes around it. It is impossible to compare. A long time ago Mika Hakkinen had a go in my rally car, and he did quite well. But it's really a question of experience. When you want to do something you have to concentrate on that, and it's impossible to go away and do something else."
"Of course there can sometimes be difficult moments. It's not only the driver, but also for the team it's hard work, every day. It's a question of how well all of you can commit."
"It could be. The discussion starts immediately if you have some events which don't go so well. It always focuses on the driver, and what the hell you are doing, and what's the problem with you. But it's not always necessarily a question of the driver; it can be something else, some little things which can go a little bit in the wrong direction, and which are very, very difficult to mention."
"It's been crazy! It's been very, very good of course, having both of us."
"I don't know exactly. Of course F1 is really what everybody follows, although rallying has been big for many, many years. But I think F1 is so much easier to follow because of TV. It's so well organised at the moment, and that's the reason why."
"It's good to see, but I'm sure it will be hard work, and take a long time to make it work. But Toyota is a very big manufacturer and they have a big budget. I think definitely the target with them is to try and be the best. But it's going to be very difficult."
"It's been very, very difficult since the beginning. But we've just done some tarmac testing in France, which was very positive. I think we've found some good ideas."
"Yes, I have a full chance."
"The next one in Cyprus is new for everybody. There are two tarmac rallies, and as I said I was very happy with the testing. I'm pretty confident at the moment."
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