The Mitsubishi Motor Sports Team completed its final preparations testerday for the inaugural running of the Corona Rally México in 26°C with sunshine and partial cloud. Mitsubishi's regular crew of Gilles Panizzi and Hervé Panizzi will be joined by Italian teammates “Gigi” Galli and Guido D'Amore in the second registered Mitsubishi Lancer WRC04, for the third round of the FIA World Rally Championship.
Today's shakedown tests took crews 40km southeast of the León Rally HQ base. Although the Mitsubishi Motor Sports Team carried out a positive gravel development test in Spain in advance of its Mexican challenge, the shakedown provided the first real experience that most competitors have had on Mexican soil.
The all-French crew of Gilles and Hervé Panizzi completed a handful of runs over the 6km shakedown stage leaving them happy with the handling of the Mitsubishi Lancer WRC04. " We have just made a few adjustments to the suspension today and the car is feeling quite good“ commented Gilles. “ The stages here in Mexico are nice to drive - they are quite smooth but in some places quite technical. The roads remind me a bit of Argentina and also New Zealand as the gravel is similar to New Zealand and because only a few people have experience here it should be quite a level playing field.“
On only their second outing in the Mitsubishi Lancer WRC04, Italians “Gigi” Galli and co-driver Guido D'Amore are also looking forward to tackling the upcoming event.
“ I know this rally is new to everyone but to be honest I have very little experience in a World Rally Car so for me every rally is quite new” said “Gigi”. “ We made some small changes to the suspension but my goal is to cover as many kilometers as possible. I need experience so I would like to be able to get to the end of the rally. And the more distance we cover the more the team can learn which is very important when you are at the early stages of developing a new car.”
The rally begins at 09:00hrs this morning covering a total of four special stages over 108 timed kilometers of competition north and east of León.
