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.

Calendar

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

Round Dates Race
1 19–21 JanuaryMonaco Monte Carlo Rally
2 6–8 FebruarySweden Swedish Rally
3 28 February-2 MarchKenya Safari Rally
4 22–25 MarchPortugal Rally Portugal
5 20–22 AprilSpain Rally Catalunya
6 4–6 MayFrance Tour de Corse
7 20–23 MayArgentina Rally Argentina
8 7–9 JuneGreece Acropolis Rally
9 24–27 JulyNew Zealand Rally New Zealand
10 21–23 AugustFinland Rally Finland
11 12–14 OctoberItaly Rally Sanremo
12 5–8 NovemberAustralia Rally Australia
13 22–24 NovemberUnited Kingdom Rally of Great Britain

Teams and drivers

Team Manufacturer Car Tyre No Drivers Rounds
Japan Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III
Lancer Evolution IV
Lancer Evolution V
M 1 Finland Tommi Mäkinen All
2 United Kingdom Richard Burns All
15 Australia Ed Ordynski 12
16 Germany Uwe Nittel 1–2, 4–5, 8, 10
Japan 555 Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza 555
Impreza WRC 98
P 3 United Kingdom Colin McRae All
4 Italy Piero Liatti 1, 3–9, 11–12
Sweden Kenneth Eriksson 2
Finland Jarmo Kytölehto 10
United Kingdom Alister McRae 13
10 Italy Piero Liatti 2
12 Finland Ari Vatanen 13
13 New Zealand Possum Bourne 12
15 Finland Juha Kangas 13
Japan Toyota Castrol Team Toyota Corolla WRC
Celica GT-Four ST205
M 5 Spain Carlos Sainz All
6 France Didier Auriol 1, 3–4, 6–13
Sweden Thomas Rådström 2
Belgium Freddy Loix 5
9 France Didier Auriol 2, 5
11 Belgium Freddy Loix 4, 8, 12
Finland Marcus Grönholm 2, 4–5, 9–10, 13
12 Australia Neal Bates 12
14 Sweden Thomas Rådström 9
15 Sweden Thomas Rådström 4–5, 8, 10
16 Japan Yoshio Fujimoto 9, 12
18 Germany Isolde Holderied 6, 8
27 Denmark Henrik Lundgaard 13
34 Turkey Volkan Isik 4-6, 8, 10-13
37 Portugal Pedro Chaves 4
United Kingdom Ford Motor Co Ltd Ford Escort WRC M 7 Finland Juha Kankkunen All
8 Belgium Bruno Thiry 1–2, 5–13
Finland Ari Vatanen 3–4
11 Finland Ari Vatanen 10
Spain SEAT Sport SEAT Córdoba WRC P 9 Finland Harri Rovanperä 10–13
10 Spain Oriol Gómez 10
Belgium Marc Duez 11–12
United Kingdom Gwyndaf Evans 13
France Peugeot Sport Peugeot 306 Maxi M 11 France François Delecour 1, 5–6, 11
14 France Gilles Panizzi 1, 5–6, 11
25 Spain Manuel Muniente 5
28 Portugal Adruzilo Lopes 1, 4–5
France Citroën Sport Citroën Xsara F2 M 12 France Philippe Bugalski 5–6, 11
16 Spain Jesús Puras 5, 11
France Fabien Doenlen 6
19 France Patrick Magaud 6, 11
France Renault Sport Renault Mégane Maxi M 19 United Kingdom Martin Rowe 6, 11, 13
21 Spain Luís Climent 5
25 Finland Tapio Laukkanen 6, 10–11, 13
28 Turkey Nejat Avci 9, 12
32 Portugal José Carlos Macedo 4
35 Sweden Jonas Kruse 2, 4, 10
Portugal Pedro Azeredo 4
South Korea Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai Coupe Evo
Coupe Evo 2
M 20 Sweden Kenneth Eriksson 4–5, 7–13
21 United Kingdom Alister McRae 5–6
29 Australia Wayne Bell 4, 8–13
48 Australia Dean Herridge 12
Germany Volkswagen Volkswagen Golf GTI 16V Kit Car P 17 United Kingdom Alister McRae 2, 7, 10-12
30 Sweden Harry Joki 2
24 Austria Kris Rosenberger 3-4, 7, 9, 12
31 Austria Raimund Baumschlager 3-4, 13
40 Finland Janne Tuohino 10
41 South Africa Jan Habig 13
47 Finland Esa Saarenpää 10
48 Finland Jani Pirttinen 10
Japan Nissan Motorsports Europe Nissan Almera Kit Car M 23 United Kingdom Mark Higgins 4, 8, 10-11, 13
48 Portugal José Araújo 4
61 Turkey Ercan Kazaz 13
Czech Republic Škoda Motorsport Škoda Octavia Kit Car M 22 Czech Republic Pavel Sibera 5-6, 8, 10-11, 13
37 Italy Fabio Danti 11
Germany Opel
United Kingdom Vauxhall
Opel
Vauxhall
Astra G Kit Car M 18 Finland Jarmo Kytölehto (Opel) 13
40 United Kingdom Neil Wearden (Vauxhall) 13

Results and standings

Drivers' championship

Pos. Driver MON
Monaco
SWE
Sweden
KEN
Kenya
POR
Portugal
ESP
Spain
FRA
France
ARG
Argentina
GRE
Greece
NZL
New Zealand
FIN
Finland
ITA
Italy
AUS
Australia
GBR
United Kingdom
 Pts 
1 Finland Tommi Mäkinen Ret 1 Ret Ret 3 Ret 1 Ret 3 1 1 1 Ret 58
2 Spain Carlos Sainz 1 2 Ret 2 7 8 2 4 1 2 4 2 Ret 56
3 United Kingdom Colin McRae 3 Ret Ret 1 Ret 1 5 1 5 Ret 3 4 Ret 45
4 Finland Juha Kankkunen 2 3 2 7 Ret 9 3 3 4 3 Ret 5 2 39
5 France Didier Auriol 14 6 4 Ret 1 6 Ret 2 2 4 Ret 3 Ret 34
6 United Kingdom Richard Burns 5 15 1 4 4 Ret 4 Ret 9 5 7 Ret 1 33
7 Italy Piero Liatti 4 9 Ret 6 Ret 3 6 6 6 2 Ret 17
8 Belgium Freddy Loix 3 2 5 6 13
9 Belgium Bruno Thiry 6 8 Ret 5 Ret Ret Ret 10 6 7 3 8
10 France François Delecour 10 8 2 Ret 6
11 Finland Ari Vatanen 3 5 Ret Ret 6
12 France Gilles Panizzi 9 6 4 35 5 Ret 6
13 Sweden Kenneth Eriksson 4 Ret 21 Ret Ret 20 Ret Ret 22 Ret 3
14 Belgium Grégoire De Mévius 8 12 4 3
15 Finland Harri Rovanperä 11 Ret 5 Ret Ret Ret 15 13 11 Ret 11 6 3
16 Finland Marcus Grönholm 5 Ret Ret Ret 7 Ret 2
17 France Philippe Bugalski 5 Ret Ret 2
18 Finland Sebastian Lindholm Ret 9 5 2
19 Austria Raimund Baumschlager 6 Ret Ret 1
20 Sweden Thomas Rådström Ret Ret 12 Ret 7 6 1
Pos. Driver MON
Monaco
SWE
Sweden
KEN
Kenya
POR
Portugal
ESP
Spain
FRA
France
ARG
Argentina
GRE
Greece
NZL
New Zealand
FIN
Finland
ITA
Italy
AUS
Australia
GBR
United Kingdom
 Pts 
Key
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green Points finish
Blue Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple Did not finish (Ret)
Black Excluded (EX)
Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Cancelled (C)
Blank Withdrew entry from
the event (WD)

Co-drivers' championship

Pos. Co-driver MON
Monaco
SWE
Sweden
KEN
Kenya
POR
Portugal
ESP
Spain
FRA
France
ARG
Argentina
GRE
Greece
NZL
New Zealand
FIN
Finland
ITA
Italy
AUS
Australia
GBR
United Kingdom
 Pts 
1 Finland Risto Mannisenmäki Ret 1 Ret Ret 3 Ret 1 Ret 3 1 1 1 Ret 58
2 Spain Luis Moya 1 2 Ret 2 7 8 2 4 1 2 4 2 Ret 56
3 United Kingdom Nicky Grist 3 Ret Ret 1 Ret 1 5 1 5 Ret 3 4 Ret 45
4 Finland Juha Repo 2 3 2 7 Ret 9 3 3 4 3 Ret 5 2 39
5 France Denis Giraudet 14 6 4 Ret 1 6 Ret 2 2 4 Ret 3 Ret 34
6 United Kingdom Robert Reid 5 15 1 4 4 Ret 4 Ret 9 5 7 Ret 1 33
7 Italy Fabrizia Pons 4 9 Ret 6 Ret 3 6 6 6 2 Ret Ret 17
8 Belgium Sven Smeets 3 2 5 6 13
9 Belgium Stéphane Prévot 6 8 Ret 5 Ret Ret Ret 10 6 7 3 8
10 France Daniel Grataloup 10 8 2 Ret 6
11 United Kingdom Fred Gallagher 3 5 Ret 6
12 France Hervé Panizzi 9 6 4 35 5 Ret 6
13 Sweden Staffan Parmander 4 Ret 21 Ret Ret 20 Ret Ret 22 Ret 3
14 Belgium Jean-Marc Fortin 8 12 4 3
15 Finland Risto Pietiläinen 11 Ret 5 Ret Ret Ret 15 13 11 Ret 11 6 3
16 Finland Timo Rautiainen 5 Ret Ret Ret 7 Ret 2
17 France Jean-Paul Chiaroni 5 Ret Ret 2
18 Finland Jukka Aho Ret 9 5 2
19 Germany Klaus Wicha 8 6 Ret Ret 1
20 Sweden Gunnar Barth Ret Ret 12 Ret 7 6 1
Pos. Co-driver MON
Monaco
SWE
Sweden
KEN
Kenya
POR
Portugal
ESP
Spain
FRA
France
ARG
Argentina
GRE
Greece
NZL
New Zealand
FIN
Finland
ITA
Italy
AUS
Australia
GBR
United Kingdom
 Pts 

Manufacturers' championship

Pos. Manufacturer No. MON
Monaco
SWE
Sweden
KEN
Kenya
POR
Portugal
ESP
Spain
FRA
France
ARG
Argentina
GRE
Greece
NZL
New Zealand
FIN
Finland
ITA
Italy
AUS
Australia
GBR
United Kingdom
Points
1 Japan Team Mitsubishi Ralliart 1 Ret 1 Ret Ret 3 Ret 1 Ret 3 1 1 1 Ret 91
2 5 15 1 4 4 Ret 4 Ret 9 5 7 Ret 1
2 Japan Toyota Castrol Team 5 1 2 Ret 2 7 8 2 4 1 2 4 2 Ret 85
6 14 Ret 4 Ret 2 6 Ret 2 2 4 Ret 3 Ret
3 Japan 555 Subaru World Rally Team 3 3 Ret Ret 1 Ret 1 5 1 5 Ret 3 4 Ret 65
4 4 4 Ret 6 Ret 3 6 6 6 8 2 Ret Ret
4 United States Ford Motor Co 7 2 3 2 7 Ret 9 3 3 4 3 Ret 5 2 53
8 6 8 3 5 Ret 5 Ret Ret Ret 10 6 7 3
5 Spain SEAT Sport 9 11 Ret 11 6 1
10 Ret 16 Ret
Pos. Manufacturer No. MON
Monaco
SWE
Sweden
KEN
Kenya
POR
Portugal
ESP
Spain
FRA
France
ARG
Argentina
GRE
Greece
NZL
New Zealand
FIN
Finland
ITA
Italy
AUS
Australia
GBR
United Kingdom
Points
Key
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green Points finish
Blue Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple Did not finish (Ret)
Black Excluded (EX)
Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Cancelled (C)
Blank Withdrew entry from
the event (WD)

FIA Teams' Cup

Pos. Team Event Points
MON
Monaco
SWE
Sweden
KEN
Kenya
POR
Portugal
ESP
Spain
FRA
France
ARG
Argentina
GRE
Greece
NZL
New Zealand
FIN
Finland
ITA
Italy
AUS
Australia
GBR
United Kingdom
1 Italy H.F. Grifone 0100101000101071600 73
2 Uruguay Uruguay en Carrera 0002546284440 39
3 Russia Gazprom Rally Team 000400030001010 27
4 Poland Mobil 1 Stomil Olsztyn 00064010000006 26
5 Sweden Toyota Castrol Team Sweden 00006000010060 22
6 Saudi Arabia Toyota Team Saudi Arabia 00000100003034 20
7 Turkey Toyota Mobil Team Turkey 0003060600020 17
8 France Frederic Dor 0001004410002 12
9 Oman Hamed Al-Wahaibi 0000003130003 10

Events

1998 World Rally Championship event map
Black = Tarmac Brown = Gravel Blue = Snow/Ice Red = Mixed Surface
1998 World Rally Championship schedule and results
Rally Name Dates run Podium Drivers (Finishing Time) Podium Cars
Monaco Monte Carlo Rally19 January–21 January
  1. Spain Carlos Sainz (4h:28m:00.5s)
  2. Finland Juha Kankkunen (4h:28m:41.3s)
  3. United Kingdom Colin McRae (4h:29m:01.5s)
  1. Toyota Corolla WRC
  2. Ford Escort WRC
  3. Subaru Impreza WRC 98
Sweden Swedish Rally6 February–8 February
  1. Finland Tommi Mäkinen (3h:32m:51.6s)
  2. Spain Carlos Sainz (3h:33m:43.2s)
  3. Finland Juha Kankkunen (3h:33m:50.4s)
  1. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV
  2. Toyota Corolla WRC
  3. Ford Escort WRC
Kenya Safari Rally28 February–2 March
  1. United Kingdom Richard Burns (8h:57m:34s)
  2. Finland Juha Kankkunen (9h:07m:01s)
  3. Finland Ari Vatanen (9h:07m:26s)
  1. Mitsubishi Carisma GT Evolution IV
  2. Ford Escort WRC
  3. Ford Escort WRC
Portugal Rally Portugal22 March–25 March
  1. United Kingdom Colin McRae (4h:20m:58.1s)
  2. Spain Carlos Sainz (4h:21m:00.2s)
  3. Belgium Freddy Loix (4h:21m:43.9s)
  1. Subaru Impreza WRC 98
  2. Toyota Corolla WRC
  3. Toyota Corolla WRC
Spain Rally Catalunya20 April–22 April
  1. France Didier Auriol (4h:18m:36.9s)
  2. Belgium Freddy Loix (4h:19m:30.3s)
  3. Finland Tommi Mäkinen (4h:19m:46.3s)
  1. Toyota Corolla WRC
  2. Toyota Corolla WRC
  3. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V
France Tour de Corse4 May–6 May
  1. United Kingdom Colin McRae (4h:02m:46.9s)
  2. France François Delecour (4h:03m:14.1s)
  3. Italy Piero Liatti (4h:03m:16.9s)
  1. Subaru Impreza WRC 98
  2. Peugeot 306 Maxi
  3. Subaru Impreza WRC 98
Argentina Rally Argentina20 May–23 May
  1. Finland Tommi Mäkinen (4h:22m:07.4s)
  2. Spain Carlos Sainz (4h:22m:34.2s)
  3. Finland Juha Kankkunen (4h:22m:34.9s)
  1. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V
  2. Toyota Corolla WRC
  3. Ford Escort WRC
Greece Acropolis Rally7 June–9 June
  1. United Kingdom Colin McRae (4h:26m:31.6s)
  2. France Didier Auriol (4h:26m:51.6s)
  3. Finland Juha Kankkunen (4h:27m:15.9s)
  1. Subaru Impreza WRC 98
  2. Toyota Corolla WRC
  3. Ford Escort WRC
New Zealand Rally New Zealand24 July–27 July
  1. Spain Carlos Sainz (3h:54m:57.1s)
  2. France Didier Auriol (3h:55m:01.2s)
  3. Finland Tommi Mäkinen (3h:56m:40.8s)
  1. Toyota Corolla WRC
  2. Toyota Corolla WRC
  3. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V
Finland Rally Finland21 August–23 August
  1. Finland Tommi Mäkinen (3h:16m:56.1s)
  2. Spain Carlos Sainz (3h:17m:31.7s)
  3. Finland Juha Kankkunen (3h:17m:41.3s)
  1. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V
  2. Toyota Corolla WRC
  3. Ford Escort WRC
Italy Rally Sanremo12 October–14 October
  1. Finland Tommi Mäkinen (4h:34m:34.5s)
  2. Italy Piero Liatti (4h:34m:50.3s)
  3. United Kingdom Colin McRae (4h:36m:04.7s)
  1. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V
  2. Subaru Impreza WRC 98
  3. Subaru Impreza WRC 98
Australia Rally Australia5 November–8 November
  1. Finland Tommi Mäkinen (3h:52m:48.7s)
  2. Spain Carlos Sainz (3h:53m:05.2s)
  3. France Didier Auriol (3h:53m:13.7s)
  1. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V
  2. Toyota Corolla WRC
  3. Toyota Corolla WRC
United Kingdom Rally of Great Britain22 November–24 November
  1. United Kingdom Richard Burns (3h:50m:30.6s)
  2. Finland Juha Kankkunen (3h:54m:17.1s)
  3. Belgium Bruno Thiry (3h:55m:58.1s)
  1. Mitsubishi Carisma GT Evolution V
  2. Ford Escort WRC
  3. Ford Escort WRC


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