Helsinki, Aug 19: Finland's four times world rally champion Tommi Makinen announced yesterday that he will retire at the end of this season.
''I will retire after this year and will concentrate on doing something else,'' the 39-year-old told a news conference. ''I have seen nearly everything, I have won four titles.''
Makinen, now with Subaru, won his titles with Mitsubishi from 1996 to 1999 and no driver has so far managed to win more championships.
The Finn was quoted in January as saying that he wanted to win a fifth title in 2003 before calling it a day. He is currently eighth, 31 points adrift of Peugeot's British leader Richard Burns.


Bureau Report