2012 Production car World Champions (PWRC) Benito Guerra (MEX) and co-driver Borja Rozada (ESP) once again take to the stages at Rally de Espana this weekend to celebrate the anniversary of their world title win here in November last year. They will compete with Ralliart Italy in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, repeating the formula, which earned them their first world championship victory.

Guerra hasn’t competed in an Evo X since he gained his PWRC laurels last season, nor did he have the chance to test before this event. He started Shakedown anxious to see how he measured up to the WRC 2 Production Cup drivers and was pleased when he immediately secured a faster time than all the competitors in this category. He was surprised at how quickly he found the feeling again in his Mitsubishi: “I wanted to prove I still have the speed I showed last season. I was nervous at first, but as soon as Borja and I got in the car we had a good feeling. I’d even say it was the best Mitsubishi I’ve ever driven! “

With 61.75km of night stages tomorrow en route from the Ceremonial Start in Barcelona back to the Service Park in Salou, Friday will be an important day for all competitors. Having won the PWRC round here last year, Guerra is confident he can put in another good performance aided by the local knowledge of Spanish co-driver Borja Rozada on his home roads: “I’m looking forward to tomorrow morning’s strategy meeting. It’s great to be back in the WRC with my old team and I really feel we’ve got what it takes to show we’re as quick as ever this weekend.”

Ralliart Italy Team Manager Bruno De Pianto is delighted to have Guerra back on board: “Everyone in the team is pleased to have Benny and Borja join us here in Spain. We have fantastic memories of this event last year where they won the PWRC round and claimed the world title. I’m confident Benny’s as fast as ever and look forward to him proving his speed out on the stages this weekend. It’s no holds barred!”