spi-ti-tout
09-23-2005, 08:27 AM
Trebur, Germany - The Mitsubishi Motors Motor Sports WRC Team now heads home, to Japan, for its most important round of the 2005 FIA World Rally Championship season. Rally Japan (September 29-October 2) is the only Asian event in the series and the team will be fielding a three-car entry for the first time this season, underlining the significance it places on the event. Harri Rovanperä/Risto Pietiläinen and Gilles Panizzi/Hervé Panizzi will pilot the two registered Mitsubishi Lancer WRC05s, while "Gigi" Galli/Guido d'Amore will compete in a third factory-run car. The event is also the penultimate round of the FIA Production Car World Rally Championship and a host of Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution drivers will be vying for both PWRC and overall Group N honors.
Gilles Panizzi will be competing for the first time in Rally Japan, although the Frenchman is a well-known character on Japanese soil after promotional trips to the country. He and brother Hervé will be looking to put on a great show for their fans and hope to secure a top result for Mitsubishi in their first competitive outing with the team since the Cyprus Rally in May.
"I will do the maximum for sure, like always," said Gilles. "I know very little about Rally Japan so I will discover the region for the first time and hope to be able to make good pace notes and have a nice feeling with the car. My last time driving on gravel was in Cyprus, but I am very happy to be back with the team for its home event. My feeling about Japan is good; I have been twice to Tokyo, which was fantastic, and there is a very nice relationship with the people. I am looking forward to going back."
The Mitsubishi Motors Motor Sports WRC Team is also fielding a third Lancer WRC05 for rising star Gigi Galli. The Italian will also be making a debut outing in Rally Japan, but has already demonstrated this year that he is capable of judging the pace and securing a measured result for the team on events where he has never previously competed.
"My strategy for Japan is the same as it has been all year; to gain experience and understanding of the conditions," said Gigi. "If we can make a nice result at the same time, then that is very good, especially as it is the home event for Mitsubishi."
Commenting on the challenge of Rally Japan, Yasuo Tanaka, the team's Technical Director, said: "We confirmed some good performance during Rally GB and for Japan we will have some improvements with the center differential. Hopefully we can look forward to a good result for Rally Japan."
This year's Rally Japan kicks off on Thursday September 29 with a ceremonial start in Central Obihiro, where tens of thousands of fans are once again anticipated to cheer on their heroes. The opening leg of competition, on Friday, however, is when the real action begins and it will be no easy first day for the 90 entrants. The route takes the crews north of the town of Rikubetsu and is notable for its two runs over the ultra-long Kunneywa-Niueo forestry stage, as well as two runs through one of the shortest stages, the 2.73 kilometer spectator stage which uses part of the Rikubetsu Circuit. In total, the leg takes in nine stages and 163.26 competitive kilometers. The second leg, centered on the town of Ashoro, is shorter but still covers 12 stages, none of which is longer than 16.25 kilometers. Sunday's shortest leg, near Shintoku and to the north-west of Obihiro, takes in five stages and 85.94 competitive kilometers, again based around the central service area at Kita Aikoku, before the finish back in Obihiro at 15:00 hrs (local). In total, the 2005 Rally Japan covers 26 stages and 350.18 competitive kilometers in a total distance of 1,614.84 kilometers.
Panizzi has been a proven winner on tarmac but quite ordinary off-road, from what we've seen recently. We'll just have to see how he does in his fourth race of the season and his third gravel challenge this year.
Gilles Panizzi will be competing for the first time in Rally Japan, although the Frenchman is a well-known character on Japanese soil after promotional trips to the country. He and brother Hervé will be looking to put on a great show for their fans and hope to secure a top result for Mitsubishi in their first competitive outing with the team since the Cyprus Rally in May.
"I will do the maximum for sure, like always," said Gilles. "I know very little about Rally Japan so I will discover the region for the first time and hope to be able to make good pace notes and have a nice feeling with the car. My last time driving on gravel was in Cyprus, but I am very happy to be back with the team for its home event. My feeling about Japan is good; I have been twice to Tokyo, which was fantastic, and there is a very nice relationship with the people. I am looking forward to going back."
The Mitsubishi Motors Motor Sports WRC Team is also fielding a third Lancer WRC05 for rising star Gigi Galli. The Italian will also be making a debut outing in Rally Japan, but has already demonstrated this year that he is capable of judging the pace and securing a measured result for the team on events where he has never previously competed.
"My strategy for Japan is the same as it has been all year; to gain experience and understanding of the conditions," said Gigi. "If we can make a nice result at the same time, then that is very good, especially as it is the home event for Mitsubishi."
Commenting on the challenge of Rally Japan, Yasuo Tanaka, the team's Technical Director, said: "We confirmed some good performance during Rally GB and for Japan we will have some improvements with the center differential. Hopefully we can look forward to a good result for Rally Japan."
This year's Rally Japan kicks off on Thursday September 29 with a ceremonial start in Central Obihiro, where tens of thousands of fans are once again anticipated to cheer on their heroes. The opening leg of competition, on Friday, however, is when the real action begins and it will be no easy first day for the 90 entrants. The route takes the crews north of the town of Rikubetsu and is notable for its two runs over the ultra-long Kunneywa-Niueo forestry stage, as well as two runs through one of the shortest stages, the 2.73 kilometer spectator stage which uses part of the Rikubetsu Circuit. In total, the leg takes in nine stages and 163.26 competitive kilometers. The second leg, centered on the town of Ashoro, is shorter but still covers 12 stages, none of which is longer than 16.25 kilometers. Sunday's shortest leg, near Shintoku and to the north-west of Obihiro, takes in five stages and 85.94 competitive kilometers, again based around the central service area at Kita Aikoku, before the finish back in Obihiro at 15:00 hrs (local). In total, the 2005 Rally Japan covers 26 stages and 350.18 competitive kilometers in a total distance of 1,614.84 kilometers.
Panizzi has been a proven winner on tarmac but quite ordinary off-road, from what we've seen recently. We'll just have to see how he does in his fourth race of the season and his third gravel challenge this year.