Rally-Driver.com: The Official Review of the 1997 World Rally Championship released on DVD

The Official Review of the 1997 World Rally Championship released on DVD
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Elton on 21 April, 2008 12:00:00
 
EDGE-OF-THE-SEAT VIEWING
After an incredible roller coaster season two of the finest rally drivers of
their generation lined up for a head-to-head battle for the World Championship
on the very last round.
Great Britain played host to the final event of the 1997 World Rally
Championship, and what a finale! Tommi Makinen needed just a sixth place
finish; his rival Colin McRae had to win on home ground.
The pair ended the season separated by just one point, after a championship
battle that would go down in history.
Now you can relive this incredible year of rallying action on DVD with the
release of the Official Review of the 1997 World Rally Championship. This
season review is the latest in a rapidly growing collection of classic WRC
season reviews to be released by Duke. It opens with a fascinating season
preview, then delivers jaw-dropping action from all 14 rounds of the title
chase, from Monte-Carlo to the special stages of Great Britain.
The opening rounds were dominated by Subaru, with McRae claiming his first win
of the season in the new-look Impreza with an incredible drive on the Safari
Rally. However, Makinen fought back with victories in Portugal – where we see
Marcus Gronholm suffer an horrific accident – and Spain.
But the Finn’s championship charge, and his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV, were
left dented by an encounter with livestock. This review captures the shocking
moments when Makinen is pitched off the road following a collision with cattle
in Corsica.
He wasn’t alone – Spain’s Carlos Sainz became a little too closely
acquainted with an unfortunate sheep in New Zealand, as our amazing on-board
footage shows.
While McRae’s hopes of repeating his 1995 title success were hit by
mechanical problems, like the Subaru barbecue seen in Indonesia, Makinen seemed
intent on ruining his own chances with a series of massive crashes – captured
in breathtaking sequences.
Scot McRae was never one to admit defeat, and battled his way back into
contention to take the fight for the championship right down to the last day of
the season. His drives in Italy, Australia and Great Britain must rank among his
greatest-ever performances, and his all-or-nothing style on his home event has
to be seen, and watched over and over again.
This DVD review lets viewers ride alongside greats like McRae, Makinen and
Sainz with in-car footage and film from cameras mounted on the bodywork of
these incredible cars.
The official World Rally Championship 1997 DVD review is released 14th April,
2008, priced at £16.99 on DVD, from leading video outlets or direct from Duke
Video: Tel 01624 640000, fax 01624 640001 or email mail@dukevideo.com. Visit
www.dukevideo.com online.