Subaru claim Monte Carlo win as Citroen await appeal
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Updated: 2002-01-21 10:08

Subaru driver Tommi Makinen said he deliberately slowed in Sunday's season-opening Monte Carlo Rally and thought he had eased to victory after learning of eventual winner Sebastien Loeb's two-minute penalty.

Loeb's Citroen team were penalised for illegally changing tyres in Saturday's last service park, but they appealed and the penalty was suspended giving Loeb his maiden world championship victory.

However, the Frenchman will have to wait for a decision on Citroen's appeal, which is expected to be made at an FIA hearing in Paris within the next 40 days, to see if the result stands.

Four-time champion Makinen, who trailed Loeb by 28.2 seconds overnight, said he opted to finish behind the Frenchman after learning of his punishment.

The Finn was 45.9 seconds behind Loeb in the final classifications and will be deemed the winner if Citroen lose their appeal, with the Frenchman being demoted to second place.

"I am delighted with the victory for Subaru," said Makinen, who will enter the record books with a fourth straight win in the principality and become the most successful driver in the sport with 24 career wins if Loeb's penalty is confirmed.

"It means a lot to me here in Monte Carlo. To get a great result with a new team in a new car was my target when I joined Subaru and for it to happen on the first event is a dream.

"I was 100 per cent prepared to go for it this morning and battle with Sebastien. As it turned out we did not have to push.

"The car and team have all worked so well together this weekend. I think if it feels like this for the rest of the year it will be a fantastic season."

Subaru team principal David Lapworth added: "This is a fantastic victory for Subaru and an incredible result for Tommi on his debut with the team.

"Obviously Sebastien drove extremely well this weekend, but it is apparent that his team broke the rules. Tommi backed off when he learned of Loeb's penalty."

But Citroen claimed that they feel Loeb's win will stand because the tyre change had been an innocent mistake, made in only their second year in the sport.

Team principal Guy Frequelin said^ Loeb added: "It's the rally that all drivers want to win. We kept our concentration all the way through and took the best combination."