 | Makinen has struggled this season |
Finland's former world rally champion Tommi Makinen has confirmed he will retire at the end of this season.
The 39-year-old, now with Subaru, won four titles with Mitsubishi from 1996 to 1999, a total no other driver has managed.
"I will retire after this year and will concentrate on doing something else," Makinen said.
"I have seen nearly everything, I have won four titles.
"Realistically, there isn't really much for me to gain by carrying on at this level and my thinking is that it's better to stop when you're at the top.
"Also, with so much change planned in the WRC over the coming seasons, I feel this is the end of an era, and a good time for me to step down."
A few hours after Makkinen's retirement was announced, Subaru revealed they had re-signed their 2001 world title winner Richard Burns from Peugeot for 2004-05.
Makinen admitted in January he was considering retirement and hoped to compete for a fifth title before calling it a day.
But he currently lies eighth in the championship, 31 points adrift of Peugeot's Richard Burns.
Makinen was sixth in the recent Rally of Finland, well behind Subaru team-mate Petter Solberg, who took second behind winner Markko Martin.
His best performance so far this season came in Sweden where he finished second to compatriot and current world champion Marcus Gronholm.
Makinen's WRC career began with Lancia in 1987 in his home rally in Finland.
He claimed his first WRC victory in the Rally of Finland in 1994 and shortly afterwards signed for Mitsubishi, where he stayed until 2001.
Fiercely competitive
In 2002 Makinen joined the 555 Subaru World Rally Team and promptly won his first race as he claimed the Monte Carlo rally.
Subaru boss David Lapworth said: "I'm sure this was a very difficult decision for Tommi to take.
"He's had an incredibly successful career and even after four world titles he remains highly motivated and fiercely competitive.
"Tommi is one of the best-known and most respected drivers in the WRC and it's been an absolute pleasure to work with him for the past two seasons."
MMIX
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Tommi is one of the best-known and most respected drivers in the WRC 