Rallye Monte Carlo is living up to its reputation of being the trickiest and most unpredictable event in the FIA World Rally Championship calendar. In just six stages, no fewer than 21 of the original 56 starters have retired, including the trio of Peugeot’s fielded by the reigning world champion. In contrast, Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart drivers Tommi Makinen and Freddy Loix have driven tactically and conclude the opening day of competition second and seventh respectively.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart T. Makinen / R. Mannisenmaki

Mitsubishi Motors drivers also hold the bulk of the leading positions in the Group N production category. World Group N Champion Manfred Stohl has grabbed the lead in his Mitsubishi Carisma GT, with fellow Mitsubishi drivers holding four of the first five places.

This event is notorious for its ever-changing conditions, posing considerable dilemmas for the drivers and engineers as the gravel and weather crews attempt to predict road conditions, frequently at least an hour ahead of the stage start time. Tyre choice for the opening stage this morning was a classic compromise; settled and also falling snow in the first 10 kilometres giving way to wet asphalt in the second half. As usual, tens of thousands of spectators from all parts of Europe have thronged to witness one of the world’s ultimate tests of driving skill, some of them camping overnight in sub-zero temperatures.

If anything Tommi Makinen and co-driver Risto Mannisenmaki have played it safe, reaping rewards from a cautious start as others - including a total of six factory drivers - fell by the wayside. The Finns powered their Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution up into third position after the repeated stage 4, moving into second after the following stage where their tyre choice suited the conditions. Despite losing time to overnight leader and Ford Focus driver Colin McRae in the final stage, Tommi is a marginal 30 seconds adrift after 141 competitive kilometres.

"It’s been a difficult day and a long time since I’ve seen it so hard", said Tommi. "It’s tough, but everything’s been working well. We lost 20 seconds in a very short distance on the last stage because it became very very slippy very quickly as it got colder. We will go as fast as we can tomorrow and, unlike many people, hopefully stay on the road!"

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

Team-mates Freddy Loix and Sven Smeets have put in a fine performance today. The Belgian Carisma GT crew holds seventh overnight after a faultless drive, hampered only in the final two stages by a differential locking problem. "My day was not so bad", he said, "but we lost a lot of time on the last two stages when a wheel speed sensor broke and it made the car very nervous as the start of stage 5. On those two stages we lost nearly a minute. But I’m quite happy with our pace and looking forward to tomorrow".

Adding to the drivers’ comments, Andrew Cowan, chairman of Ralliart Europe said: "It’s been a typical Monte day with difficult conditions and tyre choices, but we’re delighted to have two cars running so well all day".

In Group N, Austrian Manfred Stohl is no stranger to snow and ice, and the Carisma GT driver’s only regret was that he didn’t choose the right tyres for the first two stages. "We went with narrow snow tyres and there wasn’t really enough snow to make it a good choice when we went through the stages", said Stohl, who is also 11th overall. "The car is fine, but we need to work hard to stay in front".

Mitsubishi Carisma GT Gr.N M. Stohl / I. Petrasko