History Event 1990s

1998 Network Q Rally of Great Britain (UK)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1998 Network Q Rally of Great Britain (UK)

Date: November 22–24, 1998

Start Location: Cheltenham, England

Finish Location: Cardiff, Wales

Total Distance: ~1,460 km (full route)

Competitive Stages: 380.34 km

Surface: Gravel

The 1998 Network Q Rally GB delivered classic British rallying conditions, damp, muddy forest stages lined with fog and autumn leaves. Richard Burns rose to the challenge in spectacular form, mastering the slippery terrain and pressure-packed final round of the season. His win not only gave Mitsubishi a back-to-back rally victory but also cemented his growing status as a WRC title threat for the coming years.

Route

Sweet Lamb: A fan favorite with water splashes, jumps, and fast transitions over exposed ridgelines.
Hafren: Long and foggy, requiring total faith in pace notes through tree-lined chicanes and slippery cambered turns.
Myherin: Wide and fast but covered in mud, with unpredictable grip levels and deep ruts after multiple passes.

The route spanned classic Welsh stages through treacherous forests and narrow gravel tracks. Key tests included:

Persistent rain and morning fog made traction and visibility a constant challenge. Most crews ran full mud setups and relied heavily on clean lines and tire strategy.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Richard Burns & Robert Reid · Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V
2nd Place
Carlos Sainz & Luis Moya · Toyota Corolla WRC
3rd Place
Juha Kankkunen & Juha Repo · Ford Escort WRC

Burns's second consecutive win marked a career high point and helped Mitsubishi close the season with momentum. Sainz’s second place wasn’t enough to take the title, which ultimately went to Tommi Mäkinen by a single point, despite retiring on the final day.

Car Highlights

  • Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V: Exceptional traction and stability in muddy conditions made it the most consistent performer on the Welsh gravel stages.
  • Toyota Corolla WRC: Smooth and responsive, especially in tighter stages, but couldn’t quite match the Evo’s confidence in deeper ruts and slick corners.
  • Ford Escort WRC: Kankkunen drove a measured rally, using the Escort’s predictable balance to claim a final podium in the car’s competitive WRC career.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Mud and Grip: Changing grip levels required constant adaptation in braking points and throttle use, one misjudgment could send cars off-line or into the trees.
  • Fog and Visibility: Morning stages were cloaked in mist, making accurate pacenote delivery essential for safety and speed.
  • Championship Pressure: With titles on the line, even minor mistakes had massive consequences. Mäkinen’s early retirement and Sainz’s near-miss added to the drama.

The 1998 Rally GB was a thrilling and dramatic finale. Richard Burns's victory gave British fans a hero to celebrate, and Mäkinen’s title win, sealed only by Sainz’s car failing just 500 meters from the finish, remains one of the most shocking endings in rally history.

← Previous Event 1998 Rally Australia (Australia)
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