1998 World Rally Championship Explained

The 1998 World Rally Championship was the 26th season of the FIA World Rally Championship. The season consisted of 13 rallies. Tommi Mäkinen won his third consecutive drivers' world championship driving for Mitsubishi, ahead of Carlos Sainz and Colin McRae. The manufacturers' title was won by Mitsubishi (who still operated under Group A regulations), ahead of Toyota and Subaru. This year also marked the Ford Escort's last full-season works outing before being replaced by the Ford Focus WRC in 1999. The season ended in dramatic fashion when Carlos Sainz's Corolla WRC stopped approximately 300 metres from the finishing line in the final stage at Margam due to mechanical failure, thus surrendering his fourth place on the rally and handing the title to Mäkinen.^[1] ^[2]

Calendar

The 1998 championship was contested over thirteen rounds in Europe, Africa, South America and Oceania.

Round	Dates	Race
1	nowrap	19–21 January	Monte Carlo Rally
2	6–8 February	Swedish Rally
3	28 February-2 March	Safari Rally
4	22–25 March	Rally Portugal
5	20–22 April	Rally Catalunya
6	4–6 May	Tour de Corse
7	20–23 May	Rally Argentina
8	7–9 June	Acropolis Rally
9	24–27 July	Rally New Zealand
10	21–23 August	Rally Finland
11	12–14 October	Rally Sanremo
12	5–8 November	Rally Australia
13	22–24 November	nowrap	Rally of Great Britain
Sources:^[3] ^[4]

Teams and drivers

Team	Manufacturer	Car	No	Drivers	Rounds
Team Mitsubishi Ralliart	Mitsubishi		1	Tommi Mäkinen	All
			2	Richard Burns	All
			15	Ed Ordynski	12
			16	Uwe Nittel	1–2, 4–5, 8, 10
555 Subaru World Rally Team	Subaru	Impreza 555 Impreza WRC 98	3	Colin McRae	All
			4	Piero Liatti	1, 3–9, 11–12
				Kenneth Eriksson	2
				Jarmo Kytölehto	10
				Alister McRae	13
			10	Piero Liatti	2
			12	Ari Vatanen	13
			13	Possum Bourne	12
			15	Juha Kangas	13
Toyota Castrol Team	Toyota		5	Carlos Sainz	All
			6	Didier Auriol	1, 3–4, 6–13
				Thomas Rådström	2
				Freddy Loix	5
			9	Didier Auriol	2, 5
			11	Freddy Loix	4, 8, 12
			11	Marcus Grönholm	2, 4–5, 9–10, 13
			12	Neal Bates	12
			14	Thomas Rådström	9
			15	Thomas Rådström	4–5, 8, 10
			16	Yoshio Fujimoto	9, 12
			18	Isolde Holderied	6, 8
			27	Henrik Lundgaard	13
			34	Volkan Isik	4-6, 8, 10-13
			37	Pedro Chaves	4
Ford Motor Co Ltd	Ford	Escort WRC	7	Juha Kankkunen	All
			8	Bruno Thiry	1–2, 5–13
			8	Ari Vatanen	3–4
			11	Ari Vatanen	10
SEAT Sport	SEAT	Córdoba WRC	9	Harri Rovanperä	10–13
			10	Oriol Gómez	10
				Marc Duez	11–12
				Gwyndaf Evans	13
Peugeot Sport	Peugeot	306 Maxi	11	François Delecour	1, 5–6, 11
			14	Gilles Panizzi	1, 5–6, 11
			25	Manuel Muniente	5
			28	Adruzilo Lopes	1, 4–5
Citroën Sport	Citroën	Xsara F2	12	Philippe Bugalski	5–6, 11
			16	Jesús Puras	5, 11
			16	Fabien Doenlen	6
			19	Patrick Magaud	6, 11
Renault Sport	Renault	Mégane Maxi	19	Martin Rowe	6, 11, 13
			21	Luís Climent	5
			25	Tapio Laukkanen	6, 10–11, 13
			28	Nejat Avci	9, 12
			32	José Carlos Macedo	4
			35	Jonas Kruse	2, 4, 10
			35	Pedro Azeredo	4
Hyundai World Rally Team	Hyundai	Coupe Evo Coupe Evo 2	20	Kenneth Eriksson	4–5, 7–13
			21	Alister McRae	5–6
			29	Wayne Bell	4, 8–13
			48	Dean Herridge	12
Volkswagen	Volkswagen	Golf GTI 16V Kit Car	17	Alister McRae	2, 7, 10-12
			30	Harry Joki	2
			24	Kris Rosenberger	3-4, 7, 9, 12
			31	Raimund Baumschlager	3-4, 13
			40	Janne Tuohino	10
			41	Jan Habig	13
			47	Esa Saarenpää	10
			48	Jani Pirttinen	10
Nissan Motorsports Europe	Nissan	Almera Kit Car	23	Mark Higgins	4, 8, 10-11, 13
			48	José Araújo	4
			61	Ercan Kazaz	13
Škoda Motorsport	Škoda	Octavia Kit Car	22	Pavel Sibera	nowrap	5-6, 8, 10-11, 13
Škoda Motorsport	Škoda	Octavia Kit Car	37	Fabio Danti	11
Opel Vauxhall	Opel Vauxhall	Astra G Kit Car	18	Jarmo Kytölehto (Opel)	13
Opel Vauxhall	Opel Vauxhall	Astra G Kit Car	40	nowrap	Neil Wearden (Vauxhall)	13

Results and standings

Drivers' championship

	Driver	MON	SWE	KEN	POR	ESP	FRA	ARG	GRE	NZL	FIN	ITA	AUS	GBR	Pts
1	Tommi Mäkinen	Ret	1	Ret	Ret	3	Ret	1	Ret	3	1	1	1	Ret	58
2	Carlos Sainz	1	2	Ret	2	7	8	2	4	1	2	4	2	Ret	56
3	Colin McRae	3	Ret	Ret	1	Ret	1	5	1	5	Ret	3	4	Ret	45
4	Juha Kankkunen	2	3	2	7	Ret	9	3	3	4	3	Ret	5	2	39
5	Didier Auriol	14	6	4	Ret	1	6	Ret	2	2	4	Ret	3	Ret	34
6	Richard Burns	5	15	1	4	4	Ret	4	Ret	9	5	7	Ret	1	33
7	Piero Liatti	4	9	Ret	6	Ret	3	6	6	6		2	Ret		17
8	Freddy Loix				3	2			5				6		13
9	Bruno Thiry	6	8			Ret	5	Ret	Ret	Ret	10	6	7	3	8
10	François Delecour	10				8	2					Ret			6
11	Ari Vatanen			3	5						Ret			Ret	6
12	Gilles Panizzi	9				6	4				35	5		Ret	6
13	Kenneth Eriksson		4		Ret	21		Ret	Ret	20	Ret	Ret	22	Ret	3
14	Grégoire De Mévius				8							12		4	3
15	Harri Rovanperä	11	Ret	5	Ret	Ret		Ret	15	13	11	Ret	11	6	3
16	Marcus Grönholm		5		Ret	Ret				Ret	7			Ret	2
17	Philippe Bugalski					5	Ret					Ret			2
18	Sebastian Lindholm										Ret		9	5	2
19	align=left nowrap	Raimund Baumschlager			6	Ret									Ret	1
20	Thomas Rådström		Ret		Ret	12			Ret	7	6				1
	Driver	MON	SWE	KEN	POR	ESP	FRA	ARG	GRE	NZL	FIN	ITA	AUS	GBR	Pts

Co-drivers' championship

	Co-driver	MON	SWE	KEN	POR	ESP	FRA	ARG	GRE	NZL	FIN	ITA	AUS	GBR	Pts
1	align=left nowrap	Risto Mannisenmäki	Ret	1	Ret	Ret	3	Ret	1	Ret	3	1	1	1	Ret	58
2	Luis Moya	1	2	Ret	2	7	8	2	4	1	2	4	2	Ret	56
3	Nicky Grist	3	Ret	Ret	1	Ret	1	5	1	5	Ret	3	4	Ret	45
4	Juha Repo	2	3	2	7	Ret	9	3	3	4	3	Ret	5	2	39
5	Denis Giraudet	14	6	4	Ret	1	6	Ret	2	2	4	Ret	3	Ret	34
6	Robert Reid	5	15	1	4	4	Ret	4	Ret	9	5	7	Ret	1	33
7	Fabrizia Pons	4	9	Ret	6	Ret	3	6	6	6		2	Ret	Ret	17
8	Sven Smeets				3	2			5				6		13
9	Stéphane Prévot	6	8			Ret	5	Ret	Ret	Ret	10	6	7	3	8
10	Daniel Grataloup	10				8	2					Ret			6
11	Fred Gallagher			3	5						Ret				6
12	Hervé Panizzi	9				6	4				35	5		Ret	6
13	Staffan Parmander		4		Ret	21		Ret	Ret	20	Ret	Ret	22	Ret	3
14	Jean-Marc Fortin				8							12		4	3
15	Risto Pietiläinen	11	Ret	5	Ret	Ret		Ret	15	13	11	Ret	11	6	3
16	Timo Rautiainen		5		Ret	Ret				Ret	7			Ret	2
17	Jean-Paul Chiaroni					5	Ret					Ret			2
18	Jukka Aho										Ret		9	5	2
19	Klaus Wicha	8		6	Ret									Ret	1
20	Gunnar Barth		Ret		Ret	12			Ret	7	6				1
	Co-driver	MON	SWE	KEN	POR	ESP	FRA	ARG	GRE	NZL	FIN	ITA	AUS	GBR	Pts

Manufacturers' championship

	Manufacturer		MON	SWE	KEN	POR	ESP	FRA	ARG	GRE	NZL	FIN	ITA	AUS	GBR	Points
1	Team Mitsubishi Ralliart	1	Ret	1	Ret	Ret	3	Ret	1	Ret	3	1	1	1	Ret	91
1	Team Mitsubishi Ralliart	2	5	15	1	4	4	Ret	4	Ret	9	5	7	Ret	1	91
2	Toyota Castrol Team	5	1	2	Ret	2	7	8	2	4	1	2	4	2	Ret	85
2	Toyota Castrol Team	6	14	Ret	4	Ret	2	6	Ret	2	2	4	Ret	3	Ret	85
3	555 Subaru World Rally Team	3	3	Ret	Ret	1	Ret	1	5	1	5	Ret	3	4	Ret	65
3	555 Subaru World Rally Team	4	4	4	Ret	6	Ret	3	6	6	6	8	2	Ret	Ret	65
4	Ford Motor Co	7	2	3	2	7	Ret	9	3	3	4	3	Ret	5	2	53
4	Ford Motor Co	8	6	8	3	5	Ret	5	Ret	Ret	Ret	10	6	7	3	53
5	SEAT Sport	9										11	Ret	11	6	1
5	SEAT Sport	10										Ret	16		Ret	1
	Manufacturer		MON	SWE	KEN	POR	ESP	FRA	ARG	GRE	NZL	FIN	ITA	AUS	GBR	Points

FIA Teams' Cup

	Team	Event													Points
	Team	MON	SWE	KEN	POR	ESP	FRA	ARG	GRE	NZL	FIN	ITA	AUS	GBR	Points
1	H.F. Grifone	0	10	0	10	10	0	0	10	10	7	16	0	0	73
2	Uruguay en Carrera	0	0	0	2	5	4	6	2	8	4	4	4	0	39
3	Gazprom Rally Team	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	10	10	27
4	Mobil 1 Stomil Olsztyn	0	0	0	6	4	0	10	0	0	0	0	0	6	26
5	Toyota Castrol Team Sweden	0	0	0	0	6	0	0	0	0	10	0	6	0	22
6	Toyota Team Saudi Arabia	0	0	0	0	0	10	0	0	0	3	0	3	4	20
7	Toyota Mobil Team Turkey	0	0	0	3	0	6	0	6	0	0	0	2	0	17
8	Frederic Dor	0	0	0	1	0	0	4	4	1	0	0	0	2	12
9	Hamed Al-Wahaibi	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1	3	0	0	0	3	10

Group N Cup

	Driver	MON	SWE	KEN	POR	ESP	FRA	ARG	GRE	NZL	FIN	ITA	AUS	GBR	Pts
1	Gustavo Trelles	Ret	Ret		1	1	2	1	1	2	1	3	2		94
2	Manfred Stohl	1		2	2	2	1	Ret	Ret	3		Ret	4	1	71
3	Luís Climent	2	Ret	1	4		Ret		3		2				37
4	Michael Guest									1			1		26
5	Hamed Al-Wahaibi				6			2	2	5			Ret	3	24
6	Stig-Olov Walfridsson		1												13
6	Gianluigi Galli											1			13
8	Kenneth Bäcklund		2												8
	Mario Stagni											2			8
	David Higgins													2	8
	Pernilla Solberg		8								3			4	8
12	Juha Kangas		3								Ret			5	7
13	Gabriel Méndez					3				7			Ret		5
	Pierre-César Baroni	3													5
	Paul Bailey			3											5
	Miguel Campos				3										5
	Jean-Marie Santoni						3								5
	Marcos Ligato							3							5
	align=left nowrap	Jorge Recalde							Ret					3		5
	Roberto Sanchez				5	4		Ret							5
	Driver	MON	SWE	KEN	POR	ESP	FRA	ARG	GRE	NZL	FIN	ITA	AUS	GBR	Pts

Events

+ align=center style="background:#BFD7FF"	1998 World Rally Championship event map	align=center colspan=4
width=25%	Black = Tarmac	width=25%	Brown = Gravel	width=25%	Blue = Snow/Ice	width=25%	Red = Mixed Surface

Rally Name	Dates run	Podium Drivers (Finishing Time)	Podium Cars
+ align=center style="background:#BFD7FF"	1998 World Rally Championship schedule and results
	19 January–21 January	Carlos Sainz (4h:28m:00.5s) Juha Kankkunen (4h:28m:41.3s) Colin McRae (4h:29m:01.5s)	Toyota Corolla WRC Ford Escort WRC Subaru Impreza WRC 98
	6 February–8 February	Tommi Mäkinen (3h:32m:51.6s) Carlos Sainz (3h:33m:43.2s) Juha Kankkunen (3h:33m:50.4s)	Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV Toyota Corolla WRC Ford Escort WRC
	28 February–2 March	Richard Burns (8h:57m:34s) Juha Kankkunen (9h:07m:01s) Ari Vatanen (9h:07m:26s)	Mitsubishi Carisma GT Evolution IV Ford Escort WRC Ford Escort WRC
	22 March–25 March	Colin McRae (4h:20m:58.1s) Carlos Sainz (4h:21m:00.2s) Freddy Loix (4h:21m:43.9s)	Subaru Impreza WRC 98 Toyota Corolla WRC Toyota Corolla WRC
	20 April–22 April	Didier Auriol (4h:18m:36.9s) Freddy Loix (4h:19m:30.3s) Tommi Mäkinen (4h:19m:46.3s)	Toyota Corolla WRC Toyota Corolla WRC Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V
	4 May–6 May	Colin McRae (4h:02m:46.9s) François Delecour (4h:03m:14.1s) Piero Liatti (4h:03m:16.9s)	Subaru Impreza WRC 98 Peugeot 306 Maxi Subaru Impreza WRC 98
	20 May–23 May	Tommi Mäkinen (4h:22m:07.4s) Carlos Sainz (4h:22m:34.2s) Juha Kankkunen (4h:22m:34.9s)	Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V Toyota Corolla WRC Ford Escort WRC
	7 June–9 June	Colin McRae (4h:26m:31.6s) Didier Auriol (4h:26m:51.6s) Juha Kankkunen (4h:27m:15.9s)	Subaru Impreza WRC 98 Toyota Corolla WRC Ford Escort WRC
	24 July–27 July	Carlos Sainz (3h:54m:57.1s) Didier Auriol (3h:55m:01.2s) Tommi Mäkinen (3h:56m:40.8s)	Toyota Corolla WRC Toyota Corolla WRC Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V
	21 August–23 August	Tommi Mäkinen (3h:16m:56.1s) Carlos Sainz (3h:17m:31.7s) Juha Kankkunen (3h:17m:41.3s)	Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V Toyota Corolla WRC Ford Escort WRC
	12 October–14 October	Tommi Mäkinen (4h:34m:34.5s) Piero Liatti (4h:34m:50.3s) Colin McRae (4h:36m:04.7s)	Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V Subaru Impreza WRC 98 Subaru Impreza WRC 98
	5 November–8 November	Tommi Mäkinen (3h:52m:48.7s) Carlos Sainz (3h:53m:05.2s) Didier Auriol (3h:53m:13.7s)	Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V Toyota Corolla WRC Toyota Corolla WRC
	22 November–24 November	Richard Burns (3h:50m:30.6s) Juha Kankkunen (3h:54m:17.1s) Bruno Thiry (3h:55m:58.1s)	Mitsubishi Carisma GT Evolution V Ford Escort WRC Ford Escort WRC

External links

FIA World Rally Championship 1998 at ewrc-results.com

Notes and References

Web site: Hope-Frost. Henry. On this day in... 1998. Goodwood Road & Racing. 24 November 2017. 9 April 2024.
Web site: Ingram. Anthony. Freeze Frame: Burns shines as sparks fly in ‘98 Rally GB. Hagerty. 24 November 2021. 9 April 2024.
Web site: FIA World Rally Championship Calendar 1998. Motorsport Stats. 9 April 2024.
Web site: 1998 WRC calendar. Jonkka's World Rally Archive. 9 April 2024.