Network Q RAC Rally 23-25 November 1997

After three days and 1843kms of gruelling stages on the 1997 Network Q 
RAC Rally, Ari Vatanen successfully passed through the finish arch at 
Cheltenham Racecourse this evening as the highest placed non-works entry 
- in eighth place overall from an initial field of 167.   In front of a 
large crowd, the Finnish rally legend received one of the most tumultuous 
receptions of the night, when he led the traditional practice of 
celebratory 'doughnuts.' (spinning the car on the spot while holding 
position with the handbrake.) 

During a largely uneventful final day in the forests of South Wales, 
Vatanen and co-driver Roger Freeman moved up just one place on their 
overnight position, as they battled the cream of the world's rally 
drivers in their Toshiba / R-E-D Racing Ford Escort world rally car.    

Although the forty-five year-old former World Rally Champion had high 
hopes of a top-five finish, the fact that previous to the event he had 
only spent two test days in a Ford Escort world rally car, proved to be a 
telling factor.  "We are the best private entry which is a very good 
result, but we need to do more mileage," said an exhausted Vatanen back 
in Cheltenham.  "It was important for me to finish this event and not to 
take unnecessary risks when, after a while, there was little chance of me 
catching the leaders.  There are so many new elements: a new car, a new 
co-driver, and a new team of people.  If we had matched the pace of the 
front runners it would be a miracle," he continued.

For most of the day, the eleventh seeded car 's main challenger for the 
first private entry honour, was Gregoire de Mevius.  However, the 
Belgian's rally ended dramatically on stage 22, when his Ford Escort 
rolled twice on a hairpin. 

Co-driver Roger Freeman also professed to some satisfaction with the 
result.  "It's been an amazing few days.     Sitting next to Ari has been 
an experience I will never forget," he said.
 
Ahead of Vatanen, the fight for the World Rally Championship crown went 
down to the wire once again, with Colin McRae winning the battle, but not 
the war.   Richard Burns - McRae's main RAC challenger and joint 
overnight leader, looked set to spoil McRae's plans when he took an 
unexpected lead during the first two stages of the morning.   However, on 
stage 21, Burns suffered a dramatic puncture, which lost him four minutes 
and any chance of a sensational win.   From then on, twenty-nine year old 
McRae never looked in danger of losing the rally, but by finishing sixth, 
his arch rival Tommi Makinen did just enough to walk away with the world 
drivers title.