"The tests we did here were mainly to set-up tyres, suspension, shock absorbers and differentials," explained Gronholm. "We found the right set up for this year edition of Rally Argentina, adjusting the set-up of the new car on the gravel route of Sardinia that is very similar to the South American one. In early May, when the temperature is going to be warmer and closer to the temperature we will find during the race, we'll come back here and we'll finish the set up for Rally d'Italia Sardegna. I have to say that the ground here is ideal for testing the cars."
Hirvonen meanwhile reckons that his fourth place finish in Corsica could make all the difference to his form in Argentina, as he will now have a good start position for the opening leg. Although the Finn has not had the best of results to date this year, he is now eager to get a podium for
BP Ford and judging by his speed in Mexico prior to his off, an event that was also on gravel, he has every reason to be optimistic.
"In Mexico the car was going very well before I went off the road and I can't wait to see if I can find a similar speed in Argentina," he said. "These next three rallies are the most important part of the first half of the season for me. The points I scored on the last rally in Corsica were good for my confidence but also moved me up the championship standings and mean I have a good start position for the first leg in Argentina.
"The Focus RS handled perfectly in Mexico and I think high-speed gravel events bring the best out of the car. Argentina has plenty of fast sections with big jumps but also slower roads where my driving will have to be more precise. The rally has a bit of everything. Sunday's final day is the most fascinating in the whole championship. The landscape is how I would imagine the moon to be, with solid rock everywhere and a narrow road down the middle."
555 Subaru World Rally Team:
[
Petter Solberg, car #5 and
Chris Atkinson, car #6.]
Petter Solberg has promised that he will go flat-out in Argentina this weekend, in a bid to kick-start his title challenge. The Norwegian has had a largely disappointing season to date, the one highlight his second place finish in Mexico, when he was in contention for the victory early on. Other than that though the results has been far from satisfactory and he now lies 36 points behind
Sebastien Loeb, who currently leads the race for the 2006 drivers’ crown, with 5 events down.
