Finland's Tommi Makinen won the Swedish Rally on Sunday to give Mitsubishi a record sixth successive victory in the World Rally Championship. Makinen finished 18.1 seconds ahead of rival Carlos Sainz of Spain in a Toyota, winning the second round of the championship to add to his Monte Carlo victory last month.
The Mitsubishi driver took control by the second stage in subzero temperatures with Sainz his only serious rival throughout the three-day rally.
Sainz started the event well, taking the lead in the early stages but Makinen gradually eased away on the ice-covered stages to head the race for a fourth successive World Rally title. He now has a 13-point lead in the championship with a maximum 20 points, while Frenchman Didier Auriol and Juha Kankkunen of Finland are both on seven points.
Local driver Thomas Radstrom survived a tense final leg to take third, holding off the determined challenge of Frenchman Didier Auriol.
Radstrom's podium finish was consolation for Ford, following the retirement of Britain's Colin McRae on the second leg. McRae suffered engine failure as problems continued with his new team.
