RALLYING - MAKINEN STEPS UP TITLE BID WITH LAKES WIN .  JYVASKYLA , Finland 1996-08-26  Tommi Makinen took a significant step towards becoming world rally champion with a brilliant victory in the 1000 Lakes Rally on Monday .  Mitsubishi driver Makinen stopped experienced fellow Finn Juha Kankkunen in his tracks on the final day of the 1,452-km rally , doubling his lead on the first two decisive stages .  " This was the most difficult win - three days at 125 percent effort , " said Makinen , whose success completed his 1,000 Lakes hat-trick .  Kankkunen was runner-up in his Toyota as Finland 's Jarmo Kytolehto produced a remarkable drive to finish third in his Ford .  Swede Kenneth Eriksson kept Subaru in the hunt for the manufacturers ' title with fifth place in spite of a gearbox problem that nearly forced him off the road close to the end of the event .  Maakinen 's and Mitsubishi 's positions were strengthened by the late retirement of [START_ENT] Spain [END_ENT] 's Carlos Sainz when his Ford gearbox failed .  Makinen , with 95 points , now leads his nearest championship rival , Sainz , by 32 points .
RALLYING - MAKINEN STEPS UP TITLE BID WITH LAKES WIN .  JYVASKYLA , Finland 1996-08-26  Tommi Makinen took a significant step towards becoming world rally champion with a brilliant victory in the 1000 Lakes Rally on Monday .  Mitsubishi driver Makinen stopped experienced fellow Finn Juha Kankkunen in his tracks on the final day of the 1,452-km rally , doubling his lead on the first two decisive stages .  " This was the most difficult win - three days at 125 percent effort , " said Makinen , whose success completed his 1,000 Lakes hat-trick .  Kankkunen was runner-up in his Toyota as Finland 's Jarmo Kytolehto produced a remarkable drive to finish third in his Ford .  Swede Kenneth Eriksson kept Subaru in the hunt for the manufacturers ' title with fifth place in spite of a gearbox problem that nearly forced him off the road close to the end of the event .  Maakinen 's and Mitsubishi 's positions were strengthened by the late retirement of
Spain
's Carlos Sainz when his Ford gearbox failed .  Makinen , with 95 points , now leads his nearest championship rival , Sainz , by 32 points .
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