Speaking prior to event, Gronholm added that developing a good rhythm is important in order to succeed in Cyprus and avoid the boulder-strewn tracks: "The stages are OK but there is always the feeling that you need to drive faster. But if you start to attack there are so few straight sections that it's easy to go off the road. If the speed gets too high, then you can brake late and slide off or end up smashing a wheel on the stones," he explained. "Patience is therefore crucial and developing a good rhythm so that you flow through the endless corners is the key."
Controlling the pace is not the only challenge in Cyprus however, and with temperatures expected to be hot, despite the fact it has switched from a May date to September, stamina and fitness levels will still be important, as will a regular intake of fluids to combat dehydration: "It's a hard rally physically because of the heat," continued the Finn. "There's not a lot of air coming into the car because the speeds are slow and by the end of a stage it's hard to breathe. Then you have to be out of the car quickly to change the tyres around for the next stage so there's no opportunity to catch your breath. And then it's straight into the next stage. So fitness is important."
Mikko Hirvonen meanwhile wrapped up the team's four-day development test in northern Spain last week. Hirvonen took over from Gronholm for days three and four and during the test the M-Sport squad concentrated on perfecting the cars set-up on gravel for the fly-away rallies in Australia and New Zealand later on in the season. Mikko though will now be focused on Cyprus and while it is a tough event, he is in a confident mood, buoyed by his recent form, which has seen him finish on the podium in four out of the last five events.
