Mitsubishi Motors’ drivers have taken control of the Group N production car class on the first day of the Acropolis Rally, the seventh round of the 2000 FIA World Rally Championship. South American drivers lead the way, with Argentineans Claudio Menzi and Gabriele Pozzo topping the leaderboard in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions. Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart suffered a cruel blow when four-times World Rally Champion Tommi Makinen and team-mate Freddy Loix were both forced into retirement during a dramatic opening leg.

Today’s route has taken the crews from the ancient Parthenon in Athens out to the north and northwest of the city for five special stages covering a gruelling 89 competitive kilometres, before returning this evening to the coastal resort of Itea on the Adriatic Sea. The rough and rocky Greek roads took their toll from the outset and, almost without exception, all the leading contenders have suffered problems throughout the day. In fact, no fewer than five manufacturer cars retired; both Hyundai Accent World Rally Cars were forced out, Kenneth Eriksson with engine failure and Alister McRae who exceeded his time limit after a problem-filled day. Luis Climent’s rally was also cut short when he ripped the left front wheel off the Skoda in stage 3. Searing heat has added to the challenge and temperatures in the rally cars have been hovering between an exhausting 60 and 70 degrees. Britain’s Colin McRae and Spaniard Carlos Sainz currently top the leaderboard, the Ford Focus drivers being two of only a handful of crews to escape the day unscathed.

Mitsubishi Carisma GT Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart F. Loix / S. Smeets

Freddy Loix, co-driven by Sven Smeets, was the first of the World Championship contenders to retire. In the opening 20.02 kilometre stage the Belgian suffered a problem on the right rear corner of his Mitsubishi Carisma GT and, with two stages to run before repairs could be carried out, it was simply not possible to continue.

"We were coming to a very slow left-hand corner and something happened at the right rear of the car, although I did not hit anything", commented Freddy. "We don’t know what or why, but we lost the wheel, the back end dropped to the ground and that’s how we finished the stage and were forced to retire. I’m obviously very disappointed".

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Gr.N C. Menzi / E. Galindo