Mitsubishi drivers aim for another PCWRC win.

Mitsubishi drivers head for the third round of the 2004 FIA Production Car World Rally Championship [PCWRC], Rally New Zealand, with high hopes of maintaining their unbeaten record this season.

Jani Paasonen and 'Dani' Sola won the opening two rounds in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions and, although all 20 registered Production Car contenders will be competing in New Zealand, Mitsubishi's all-conquering machinery makes up over half of this field and its drivers are clear favourites for victory once again.

From a total of 37 Group N entries a majority of 21 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions will compete in New Zealand which confirms the popularity of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.

The most southerly round of the World Championship can justly claim to be one of the supreme tests of driving skill.

The loose-surface roads snaking across the lush, undulating landscape of New Zealand's North Island are sometimes fast, sometimes twisty, but almost invariably smooth and accordingly they give skilled production drivers every chance to demonstrate their skills.

But there are new hurdles to overcome this year, in addition to the country's unpredictable weather and the return of classic stages such as Whaanga Coast. It will be the first time drivers will carry out some reconnaissance during the rally and that poses fresh demands on stamina, concentration and accurate pace noting.

The man to beat could well be the FIA Production Car World Rally Championship leader Sola. The Spaniard set the pace in Mexico and claimed an emphatic class victory in the Lancer Evolution during the first running of the event at world status.

"New Zealand is a nice rally, but quite different from M?xico," said Sola. "It is smoother and maybe faster. And it is a rally I don't know so well, but I feel confident at the moment so I hope it is positive for us."

Italy's 'Gigi' Galli has also impressed for Mitsubishi this year and although he is far from a New Zealand expert, he will expect to be among the leaders in his Lancer Evolution.

"We have not been so lucky this year, but I think we have been quite fast and I feel very motivated for this rally," said the Italian. "I want to be competitive, but also it is important for me to finish."

The Japanese Lancer Evolution driver, Fumio Nutahara has previous New Zealand experience and he therefore has a good chance of challenging the established names in his debut year at Production World Rally Championship level.

"It was good to score points in M?xico and I want to build on that result, but still it is most important for us to gain experience this year," Nutahara stated.

Many talented drivers are using the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution as their choice of chariot; several have useful experience of New Zealand's difficult terrain. Ralliart New Zealand is running two cars driven by the local crew of Mark Tapper and Jeff Judd along with British driver Tom Pritchard and his Kiwi co-driver Colin Smith. Other home grown Mitsubishi crews include Grant Barber/Len Fisher, Malcolm Stewart/Mike Fletcher and Dermott Malley/Patrick Malley.

Based in New Zealand's biggest city, Auckland, the rally covers 1,398.36 kilometres, with 395.20 kilometres of stages. It runs from April 15-18.