Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution WRC Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart F. Delecour / D. Grataloup

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart completed it’s final preparations for the 2002 Rally Argentina today when registered crews François Delecour/Daniel Grataloup and Alister McRae/David Senior ran the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution WRCs for the final time before this evening’s ceremonial start in Carlos Paz.

The shakedown test, just 15 kilometres from the tourist resort of Carlos Paz, was however the culmination of the team’s preparation for the only World Rally Championship event to be held in the Americas. Prior to the start of the reconnaissance on Monday, the Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart crews completed more than 600 kilometres over four days, honing the settings on the Lancer Evolution for the mix of high gravel stages that characterise the autumnal Rally Argentina.

"We did a lot of work with the suspension and modifications to the engine mapping," commented engineer, Roger Estrada. "We also have new specification drive-shafts which are much stronger and the drivers seem quite happy with the way thing are moving."

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution WRC Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart F. Delecour / D. Grataloup

While conditions in Argentina appear to have been dry over the past few months, the weather is nevertheless changeable and a forecast of rain over the weekend could turn the rock-strewn roads into treacherously slippery stages. The all-French crew of François Delecour and Daniel Grataloup have only contested this event twice in the past, but Delecour is happy with their preparations and is looking forward to the start of the event.

"I feel happier with everything here, more so than Cyprus, and we have done a lot of work during the test," he said. "The suspension and engine are much better and the work we have done on the diffs means the car is a lot less sideways. Conditions are pretty rough and very loose, but I think if it rains there could be a big problem with mud and very slippery conditions."

Team-mates Alister McRae and David Senior enjoy Rally Argentina, the combination of fast, twisty, loose and rutted roads appealing to the Scotsman who will be pushing for points in this, the sixth round of the FIA World Rally Championship.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution WRC Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart A. McRae / D. Senior

"This event has a bit of everything but the high altitude also makes it harder on the engine, so the work we did with the mapping during the test was very important," said Alister. "The car feels better with improvements to the engine and suspension set-up and it seems to be well suited to the faster open roads which make up about 60 percent of the route."

Adding to their comments, Team Director John Easton said: "The test and shakedown has been very encouraging and we’re looking forward to a trouble-free event. Because it has a mix of everything and the weather can change conditions dramatically, this rally can be quite unpredictable but historically the team has done well here and we hope this will be the start of our upturn."

The 2002 Rally Argentina starts this evening at 19:30 hrs (local) by the picturesque San Roque lake in Villa Carlos Paz, however the action begins in earnest tomorrow with the opening leg of competition. The 325.38 kilometre route, of which 153.79 is competitive, covers nine special stages run to the north around the base of La Cumbre.

Mitsubishi Motors drivers lead the Production Car World Rally Championship after three rounds and are the hot favourites for Production class victory on the fourth, Rally Argentina. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions or Mitsubishi Carisma GTs dominate the class and make up no fewer than 24 of the 68 starters.

Peru’s Ramon Ferreyros is one of the Championship leaders and has a chance to take a clear lead in his Lancer Evolution.

"It will be difficult to win here, because there are plenty of good local drivers, but we don’t have to beat the ones not registered for the Championship. The important thing is to score points", Ferreyros stated.

No driver has more experience of Production cars and Mitsubishi than Uruguayan Gustavo Trelles and he will undoubtedly be one of the front runners in his Lancer Evolution.

"At the moment the stages are very good, but I think it could get quite rough and you will have to be careful to do well. I think we can get a good result here though", Trelles said.

One of the men to watch will be Argentina’s rising star Marcos Ligato, who will be competing in front of his own crowd in his Lancer Evolution. "We need points of course, but it is early in the season and it would be fantastic to win here at home. I am looking forward to the rally very much", Ligato said.

Non-Championship drivers could well feature on the leaderboard, with the likes of Luis Perez Companc and Juan Pablo Raies, both driving Lancer Evolutions, capable of challenging the established drivers.