GERMAN ASPHALT AWAITS THE MITSUBISHI WRC TEAM
After a string of gravel rallies, the FIA World Rally Championship is set for the first true asphalt event of the season, the OMV ADAC Rallye (August 6-28). This German event provides a cocktail of challenging conditions and the Mitsubishi Lancer WRC05 crew of Harri Rovanperä and Risto Pietiläinen will again be joined by Italians "Gigi" Galli and Guido d'Amore in the second Lancer WRC05.
"It is a long time since the first sealed surface event in Monte-Carlo, but we have conducted a good test," commented Isao Torii, Head of Mitsubishi Motor Sports. "Gilles Panizzi worked with the team during the last Tarmac test and seems to have found good solutions for the suspension, transmission, engine management and tires for these conditions. Germany is a very tricky rally and we were victims of the conditions last year, but there were many top drivers and teams in the same situation. Our priority is to complete the rally with both cars in the points and I have confidence in the team and believe we can achieve this goal."
Rallye Deutschland entered the series in 2002 and this is the only year Harri Rovanpera has contested the event. It was however an unsuccessful outing with co-driver Voitto Silander, the pair troubled with differential problems before being forced into retirement when they lost the rear wing, lost downforce and the back end of the car hit a gate and broke the suspension.
"For sure this is not going to be such an easy rally for us because my only experience three years ago was full of problems," said Rovanpera. "The stages in the vineyards are difficult with too many junctions and the military roads at Baumholder are very fast, bumpy and can be dangerous. The stages in the Saarland region are better but in general the rally is difficult. Okay, it's important to have the right set-up, but the weather and tires are also key factors on this event. During our test it was raining a lot, so maybe the work we did could be perfect for Germany! I don't really have too much experience with the Pirelli tires on Tarmac, but we will see."
Team-mates Gigi Galli and Guido d'Amore have marginally more experience of the conditions, but the Italians too have disappointing memories. In 2002 they were forced to withdraw after losing so much time with brake problems, and last year they were out after an accident in Mitsubishi's Group N Lancer Evolution. Both crews are under no illusion that this event will be an easy one to conquer.
"I'm sorry to say this is not my favorite event," said Galli. "I find the roads tricky, very bumpy and narrow and if you have an accident it will probably be a big one - like ours in Baumholder last year. The weather in this region is inconsistent, which also makes it a very difficult rally. This is another very particular event in the calendar and we will only know what progress we have made on Tarmac once we are there and competing."
Commenting on the challenge ahead, Yasuo Tanaka, the team's Technical Director said: "This event is a very specialized Tarmac rally and our key area of improvement is with the active center differential, although this is still undergoing further development. There are a number of small changes that will hopefully see us with better performance on this surface."
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