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

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart concluded its final preparations for the 38th Rallye Catalunya-Costa Brava today when 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.

With the full complement of seven FIA World Rally Championship teams contesting this all-asphalt event, the shakedown test - fifty kilometres to the northwest of the coastal town of Lloret de Mar - was swarming with thousands of fanatical supporters, many just out to witness national hero Carlos Sainz. Located under what is now the famous viaduct where fans hang over the bridge to watch the cars, few were disappointed with the world-class action, the 20 degree temperatures and clear blue skies adding to the already warm atmosphere which makes the event one of the most popular in the series.

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

Having undertaken a three-day test earlier in the week, the Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart crews used the morning to confirm specifications for the Lancer Evolution WRC, the team having again moved forward despite only a week since the last event in Corsica. "Between them the drivers covered another 700 kilometres at the weekend on roads around Vic and Tarragona which are very representative of what we will see on the rally", commented Spanish team engineer, Roger Estrada. "The car is working better with small improvements to the brakes, differential mappings and general set-up and François and Alister are happy we’re making progress all the time".

Frenchman Delecour echoed Estrada’s comments: "We did a lot of work with the centre and front diffs, the car has a lot less understeer now and is much easier to drive. Sure, it’s going to be difficult to match the Peugeots and Citroens, but I think that’s the same for many of the teams, but we have certainly made progress since Corsica. At shakedown we just confirmed all our findings and tried three different compounds of tyre, again to check what is working best".

Marlboro Yamaha Moto GP rider Carlos Checa in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution WRC

Marlboro Yamaha Moto GP rider Carlos Checa also joined the team at shakedown, the Spaniard swapping two wheels for four when he co-drove François for a run through the stage. Despite being used to the power of his Yamaha M1 4-stroke GP bike, Checa couldn’t fail to be impressed by the handling of the Lancer Evolution on asphalt.

"That was one of the best experiences of my life!" he said. "It’s completely impossible to compare the bike and the rally car and I feel like I need to digest the experience before I can say too much. It all happened so fast… one minute the brake the next the throttle and as I was looking at the entry to the corner we were already in the exit! Fantastic, a great experience".

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart team-mates Alister McRae and David Senior are also happy with the team’s progress amid a string of asphalt rallies early in the season. "Fine-turning the diff mappings has reduced the understeer and allows us to commit much earlier", said Alister. "All the time there is more work to do, but we’re in the right direction and making improvements every time".

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution WRC Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart François Delecour with Carlos Checa

Rallye Catalunya-Costa Brava starts this evening with a ceremonial start in the centre of the seaside resort of Lloret de Mar, but the action begins in earnest on Friday when the crews head west down the coast to Tarragona for six stages and 176 competitive kilometres. For some of the teams the dramas have already started, national hero Carlos Sainz forced to start with a new co-driver in Marc Marti, regular partner Luis Moya out with injuries after a testing accident at the beginning of the week.

Their Ford team-mate Colin McRae is also contesting the rally with a broken little finger after his accident in Corsica, and the Hyundai crew of Tomasz Kuchar and Maciej Szczepaniak are also out of the rally after a truck toppled onto their recce car, narrowly avoiding a serious disaster but leaving both Poles shaken and injured.