"Mexico has a little of everything. It's surprisingly fast and I remember driving flat out for long sections. The surface can be abrasive and as the temperatures will be quite high, I think it could be hard for tyres, but I'm sure that BFGoodrich will be well prepared. It's my first gravel rally since Japan last year but I've competed in Sweden and tested in both France and Spain on the loose so I don't see any problems in returning to the surface in competition."
555 Subaru World Rally Team:
[
Petter Solberg, car #5 and
Chris Atkinson, car #6.]
Subaru have endured a difficult start to the 2006 World Rally Championship, and as such SWRT sporting director, David Lapworth has been forced to relinquish his position at the head of the team, a move which was confirmed last week. He will be replaced by Paul Howarth.
Sporting director Luis Moya is hopeful though that Solberg will be able to fight for the win - on an event that is usually a good one for the Banbury based squad.
"The season started with two extremely specialised events, so in many respects the proper rallying starts now," he noted. "Mexico will be the first gravel event with the new car and, after such different rallies, will be much more indicative of performance levels.
"Mexico has traditionally been a very good rally for us, playing to both the strengths of the car and the tyres. In 2004 we led for the majority of the rally and then won in 2005. This year we want to repeat that run of success to lay the ghosts of the Swedish Rally to rest. There's no escaping the fact that Sweden was disappointing, but the post-event analysis was very thorough and we have a very good understanding of the root causes. Petter will come back with renewed enthusiasm and confidence in Mexico. He won last year and I see no reason why he can't repeat this again in 2006."
Solberg meanwhile, after failing to secure points in either of the opening two events, due to mechanical problems, knows that he needs a change in fortune.
