2002, Tommi Makinen, four-time consecutive Champion was invited as the ace driver for SUBARU and along with Petter Solberg, the two cars teamed up to win consecutive Championship title.
Makinen, for the first time to drive Impreza WRC made his debut in Monte Carlo. Makinen has been winning this event for three times in a row, and he continued to keep his luck as he bring out the full potential of the Impreza and won the Rally in spite of hard battle between Sebastien Loeb of Citroen. However, Makinen seemed to enter deep slump after Second Round. Although he kept good positions, some how he would end up retiring the Rally. Only points he gained was at Round 5 in Cyprus (3rd place), Round 9 in Finland (6th place), Round 12 in Australia (3rd) and the Final Round Great Britain (4th place). For Makinen who obviously entered the team of SUBARU to win Championships, it was much to regret. On the other hand, Solberg had much more positive results. After he finished 2nd place in Round 6, Argentina, he finished 3rd place in Round 9, Finland, Round 11, San Remo and Round 12, Australia. Further more, eventually in the Final Round Great Britain he won his first WRC. With this triumph, he overturned the position to Carlos Sainz of Ford to finish the season with 2nd place in the Championship title.
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Tommi Makinen
