Which Finnish driver won four consecutive WRC titles from 1996 to 1999?

Tommi Mäkinen won four consecutive WRC drivers' titles from 1996 to 1999. The Finnish driver achieved the feat with Ralliart Mitsubishi, driving versions of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. His first championship arrived in 1996, when he defeated Subaru rival Colin McRae and established a four-year period of remarkable consistency.

Mäkinen defended the title in 1997, 1998 and 1999. His success was built on speed across gravel, snow and tarmac, as well as strong teamwork with co-drivers including Seppo Harjanne, Risto Mannisenmäki and Timo Hantunen. Mitsubishi also won the manufacturers' championship in 1998, the team's only WRC manufacturers' title during Mäkinen's championship era.

The answer is often confused with Juha Kankkunen, another Finnish four-time world champion, but Kankkunen's titles were spread across 1986, 1987, 1991 and 1993. Marcus Grönholm was also a Finnish champion, winning in 2000 and 2002, after Mäkinen's four-title streak had ended.