Mitsubishi made an impressive start to its WRC comeback season, but team boss Sven Quandt warns that not too much should be read into Gilles Panizzi’s result in Rally Monte Carlo.
Mitsubishi made an impressive start to its WRC comeback season, but team boss Sven Quandt warns that not too much should be read into Gilles Panizzi’s result in Rally Monte Carlo.
Former Peugeot asphalt road specialist Panizzi surprised many in the world rally establishment when his Lancer WRC04 finished in sixth place on the car’s competition début.
“To have scored points like this, when the car is still so new , is quite exceptional,” he said. “We are delighted with the team’s success in our first event back in the WRC”
However, Quandt warned against complacency: “I am surprised,” he said. “For me, it [the result] is more than my expectations. The times are not so bad, but the first step is always easy. The second one is more difficult. To get everything really right takes longer,” he added.
A host of improvements are planned for the Mario Fornaris-designed car, but they are unlikely to arrive until the Mexican Rally in March. Kristian Sohlberg will replace Gigi Galli as number two driver for the Swedish Rally next week, but stands down in favour of Galli for Mexico.