Sweet Lamb, Nov 28: Mitsubishi has formally resumed its assault on the World Rally Championship with an all-new rally car and driver team.
Mitsubishi did not compete in the 2003 World Rally Championship but returned on Thursday (November 27) with the presentation of the new Lancer and the announcement of four new drivers for 2004. Frenchman Gilles Panizzi, backed by his brother Herve as co-driver, head the line-up at every round of the series, starting in Monte Carlo. The second car will be driven by Italy's Gianluigi Galli but Finland's Kristian Sohlberg will drive the second car in Sweden. Spain's Daniel Sola, a past world rally junior champion, may also get a chance to run, especially if three cars are run. It is reported that those drivers not driving one of the two WRC cars will complete the recce for each event and then drive Group N Lancers in most of the rallies to gain experience. Rule changes in the 2004 season prevent teams from running too many drivers who have won world rallies in the past. This favours the Mitsubishi approach of bringing on young drivers.


Mitsubishi won the world championship in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 with driver Tommi Makinen of Finland.


Bureau Report