Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart heads into new territory on the Rally of Cyprus, the 10th round of the 2000 FIA World Rally Championship, but is confident of a good result with World Champion Tommi Makinen driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and Belgian star Freddy Loix in a Mitsubishi Carisma GT. Mitsubishi is again also very much the favourite for the Group N production category.

Few of the top drivers have previously contested the Rally of Cyprus, but it is already clear that the beautiful island in the eastern Mediterranean will host one of the toughest rounds of the World Championship. Endless sharp corners and baking, late-summer heat will impose a tremendous strain on drivers, cars and tyres as they tackle the stages in the Troodos Mountains in the centre of the island. During today’s final shakedown test 70 kilometres to the northwest of the rally base in Limassol, searing temperatures predictably greeted the crews, however two flash rain showers caught out even the locals, who claim rain at this time of year is virtually unheard of. While the two events are similar in style, many drivers predict that it will be even more gruelling than the Acropolis Rally, which is widely regarded as Europe’s toughest.

Tommi Makinen and fellow Finn Risto Mannisenmaki are confident that their Michelin-equipped Lancer Evolution has benefitted from recent testing, but Makinen - who is contesting the rally for the first time - admits that he doesn’t know quite what to expect.

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

"It is hard to say", he commented, "because the conditions are new for everybody and it will be very warm and very hard. I am quite sure there will be many retirements. The stages are quite difficult in places. In these conditions, all of us will be working hard!" he added.

Belgians Freddy Loix and Sven Smeets are also newcomers, but the Carisma GT crew start on the same footing as their main rivals for once, because no one has much knowledge of the stages.

"Some of the stages are quite nice, but the others are a bit twisty. It is not that rough, but sometimes the stages are so slow and twisty that there is not that much air coming into the car. The feeling after the shakedown is quite good and we are looking forward to a new challenge", Loix declared.

For Austrian Manfred Stohl, the Group N World Championship leader, finishing is the main priority. He has a tremendous record this season and will keep at least a share of the lead even if he doesn’t finish in his Carisma GT, but is aware that consistency is almost as important as speed.

Mitsubishi Carisma GT Gr.N M. Stohl / P. Muller