Rally Australia was held on November 5-8, based in Perth.
World Rally Championship Round 12
Asia Pacific Rally Championship Round 5
In something a a repeat of the previous year, the 1998 WRC was a battle between Mäkinen in the Lancer, Sainz in a Corolla and McRae in a Subaru, with Kankkunen in an Escort also in the running. Coming into Australia, the second last round, Sainz was on 50 points, Mäkinen on 48, McRae 42 and Kankkunen 31.
Mitsubishi came to Australia with Mäkinen and Burns, backed up by local Ordynski. Sbaru brough McRae and Liatti, back up by Possum Bourne. From Toyota were Sainz, Auriol and Loix, plus local Neal Bates. And Ford brought Kankkunen and Thiry, plus support for Swede Lindholm. SEAT were also in the mix with Harri Rovanpera, Marc Duez and Toni Gardemsister. There were 92 entries.
As was often the case in WA, being first on the road cost Sainz time and on the first day Burns took the lead from Mäkinen with Sainz languishing in sixth. But late in the day Mäkinen hit a rock and together with late penalties in the liaison, had dropped to eighth by day’s end where Burns held a commanding minute lead. McRae was also suffering from road position and was sixth behind Sainz. Both Sainz and Mäkinen flew on the Saturday to move into first and second, but McRae struggled and remained down in sixth, a minute adrift. On the final day in Bunnings, McRae won three of the five stages to climb to fourth, Burns crashed out on the final stage, while Mäkinen overhauled Sainz to take the win by 16 seconds.
Possum Bourne was again the best of the locals in eighth with Ordynski tenth and Bates twelfth.
