History 2000s

2001 Rally Argentina (Argentina)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2001 Rally Argentina (Argentina)

Date: May 3–6, 2001

Start Location: Villa Carlos Paz, Argentina

Finish Location: Villa Carlos Paz, Argentina

Total Distance: ~1,300 km (estimated full route)

Competitive Stages: ~382 km

Surface: Gravel

The 2001 Rally Argentina offered up classic South American rallying: high-speed gravel tracks, water splashes, and changing weather conditions. Tommi Mäkinen rose to the challenge, combining experience and aggression to fend off strong opposition and take a well-earned win — his third career victory in Argentina and a vital boost for Mitsubishi’s campaign.

Route

El Condor – Copina: Narrow, rocky climbs with thick fog and thousands of fans — a true WRC classic.
Mina Clavero: Fast and flowing with heavy compression zones and water fords — very hard on suspension.
Santa Rosa: Long straights with loose gravel and unexpected surface transitions — required focus and brake management.

Set in the Sierras de Córdoba, the stages delivered a mix of fast open terrain and tight, technical forested sections. Key stages included:

The weather fluctuated across the weekend, adding an extra layer of unpredictability as damp patches caught out several top crews.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Tommi Mäkinen & Risto Mannisenmäki · Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI
2nd Place
Carlos Sainz & Luis Moya · Ford Focus WRC
3rd Place
Richard Burns & Robert Reid · Subaru Impreza S7 WRC

Mäkinen controlled the pace throughout, managing tires and mechanical wear expertly. Sainz showed solid consistency to bring home second, while Burns recovered from early handling issues to claim third on a demanding weekend.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Water Crossings: Numerous river fords required speed control and careful throttle use to avoid engine stall or splash damage.
  • Surface Shifts: Sections transitioned from hard-packed gravel to loose stone — grip varied rapidly between corners.
  • Altitude Effects: Thinner air affected engine power and driver concentration — strategic pacing was crucial.

Mäkinen’s win in Argentina reaffirmed his status as one of gravel’s greats and reminded the WRC field that the veteran Finn and Mitsubishi still had the speed to fight for top honors in 2001.

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