The Acropolis Rally (8-11 June) is renowned for being one of the toughest events in the FIA World Rally Championship calendar, and only a punishing test programme that confirms the strength of the car will give the crews the confidence they need to push hard over the rock-strewn stages. Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart is however well prepared for this, the seventh round of the 2000 series, having just completed a six-day test with Freddy Loix, Lasse Lampi and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution/Carisma GT.

Tyres, suspension and reliability play a critical role as the searing heat and abrasive gravel roads take their toll on man and machinery. Using representative roads and old stages around Itea, to the northwest of Athens, Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart focused on suspension set-up, dampers, transmission revisions and tyres, aiming for victory in one of only two events it has yet to win.

Weather conditions favoured the team and, although the first couple of days were relatively cool, temperatures soared to 25 degrees ensuring the test proved completely representative of the conditions likely to be experienced in June. Michelin has worked hard to develop a new more puncture resistant tyre to cope with the exceptionally rocky conditions and this, coupled with damper and suspension revisions since Kenya and Portugal, leaves the team well-placed to mount an all-out assault for its first win in Greece.

"We have made quite a few improvements and I am happy with the way the test went", commented Freddy Loix. "We have been working quite hard on the rear suspension because sometimes it was ’kicking back’ when you went into a hole or over a jump. As always in Greece we make the car higher at the front so the sump guard ’bottom out’, which was happening in Portugal sometimes. All of this is now working very well. And it is very important to get a good suspension set-up here; the surface is always very rough and we have to drive many kilometres on the same tyre. If we get it right we can push to the limit all the time and go very hard, even over the roughest places. The different tyres we tested worked well; Michelin has a strong tyre which we can use to maximum effect. The team has also worked hard to lighten the car, for here and Argentina, and I am happy that we have done as much preparation as possible for the next two events".

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart is now preparing for the long journey to South America and the sixth round of the FIA World Rally Championship, Rally Argentina (11-14 May). Reigning World Rally Champion Tommi Makinen has previously dominated the event with three consecutive victories in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (1996, 1997, 1998), and will be looking to reclaim his lead in the series in the only event hosted in this part of the world.