RALLY AUSTRALIA SHAKEDOWN/MITSUBISHI MOTORS/2002 WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

Communique 2 - Shakedown
Thursday 31 October 2002

MITSUBISHI REVVED UP DOWN UNDER

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart completed its final preparations for Rally Australia this morning when the team’s registered crews ran the Lancer Evolution WRC2s for the final time ahead of tonight’s start and opening super special stage in the centre of Perth.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution WRC2
Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart
F. Delecour / D. Grataloup

The shakedown test, 60 kilometres to the south-east of Perth at Langford Park, was however the culmination of the team’s pre-event testing, both François Delecour and Jani Paasonen having undertaken a four-day test prior to the start of the recce. With more than 550 kilometres run on representative roads, combined with fine-tuning over the 3.4 kilometre shakedown road this morning, both drivers are confident they have found the optimum set-up for the 388.64 kilometres of competition ahead. Despite hot and dry weather earlier in the week, blanket cloud this morning, temperatures around 15 degrees and light drizzly rain are threatening wet conditions tomorrow, which could throw the usual advantage running at the back of the field into disarray.

"The nature of the roads is very unique here and the test focused on setting up the car for the particularly slippery conditions", commented Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart chief engineer Bernard Lindauer. "The drivers also spent a lot of time concentrating on the suspension and differentials to get maximum traction and performance".

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution WRC2
Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart
F. Delecour / D. Grataloup

François Delecour starts his sixth Rally Australia tonight and the Frenchman, co-driven by Daniel Grataloup, is buoyed by the team’s progress on gravel and has a better feeling with the car than in the previous round in New Zealand.

"I am learning that I have to change the way I drive the car to make it work better for me", commented François. "Normally I like to play with the car, but I can’t do that. It needs to be on the line, not sideways and I’ve also made changes to the brakes and diffs to suit the way I’m now driving. We have changed the master cylinder for the brakes, which is making them much much harder, and normally I like the diff to be freer at the front, but we’ve changed that as well and although it means the car is stiffer and a bit more nervous to drive, it has to be like that. I have a good feeling though and am looking forward to the start".

Team-mates Jani Paasonen and Arto Kapanen were sensationally quick in New Zealand and the Finns are confident they can match the pace in Australia, despite only previously contesting Rally Australia once.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution WRC2
Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart
J. Paasonen / A. Kapanen

"For me it’s the same feeling as New Zealand, maybe better, so I feel very happy", said Jani. "I really learned how the car needs to be driven and then I’ve spent a couple of weeks in England with the team and did some more testing and that has helped me a lot. Every time I get in the car, I trust it more and more. After the GB test, Lasse also looked at my settings and made some more suggestions and there is a little bit more of a difference again. The spec is pretty much the same as New Zealand, although the diffs are a bit different and the suspension slightly higher, but we are looking forward to it. Now, the only unknown is the weather and I am praying that it stays dry, which will suit our starting position".

Adding to their comments, Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart team director John Easton said: "The specification on both cars is exactly the same, we’re making pleasing progress and feel confident if the conditions remain dry. Obviously if it’s wet we’ll have to see, although we did have one wet day of testing so that knowledge will be of some benefit".

The 2002 Rally Australia kicks off this evening with the famous super special stage at Langley Park in the heart of the city, which draws in excess of 15,000 spectators over rally weekend.

2002 FIA Production Car World Rally Championship - Round 8

MITSUBISHI DRIVERS BID FOR WORLD TITLE ON RALLY AUSTRALIA

Mitsubishi Motors drivers Kristian Sohlberg and Ramon Ferreyros will start Rally Australia tonight bidding for the highest stakes, for both stand a chance of winning the 2002 FIA Production Car World Rally Championship on the final round of the series. Both will drive Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions, but however they fare, Mitsubishi stands every chance of success as there is a formidable entry of Lancer Evolutions and Mitsubishi Carisma GTs.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Gr.N
K. Sohlberg (left) and R. Ferreyros

Three drivers can still gain the world title and Finn Kristian Sohlberg is Mitsubishi’s best bet, as he is just two points behind the leader and already has two maximum scores to his credit in his Lancer Evolution.

"The main thing for us is to control our speed and get two more points than Karamjit Singh. It will be difficult, because the roads are narrow and slippery, and it is easy to make a mistake", Solhberg commented.

Peru’s Ramon Ferreyros knows that becoming World Champion is a long shot, but the Lancer Evolution driver is determined to put everything into the last round of the series.

"It’s going to be difficult, because we have to win to have any chance of winning the championship, and what makes it more difficult is all the cars are nearly the same and it is our first time in Australia", Ferreyros said.

The championship contenders will deserve praise even for scoring points against such a strong field. Mitsubishi drivers figure prominently, potential victors including Argentina’s Marcos Ligato, former British Champion Martin Rowe and Italy’s Giovanni Manfrinato. Drivers not registered for the World Championship will not score points, but could easily win the class. Mitsubishi can depend on drivers of the quality of Finland’s Juuso Pykalisto and former World Champion Manfred Stohl.

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