Round 1: 73th Rallye de Monte-Carlo 2005

Pictures of the Rallye de Monte-Carlo 2005 here.

PANIZZI ON THE PODIUM IN 3rd FOR MITSUBISHI MOTORS Both Lancer WRC05 crews claim driver and manufacturer points in season-opening event The Mitsubishi Lancer WRC05 made a highly-successful debut in the 2005 FIA World Rally Championship and, in the hands of French Tarmac experts Gilles and Hervé Panizzi, claimed third position - the Lancer WRCs best-ever result and the team’s first podium placing since the 2001 Safari Rally. Team newcomers Harri Rovanperä and Risto Pietiläinen also fulfilled the team’s objective of reaching the finish of one of the toughest events in the championship and they too claimed points for themselves and Mitsubishi by finishing seventh in their first Tarmac rally in three years. "Yesterday I said what a great day for Mitsubishi Motors", said Isao Torii, President of Mitsubishi Motors Motor Sports. "Today I can say what a great weekend for us! It is our first podium since 2001. We took a break in 2003, and 2004 was a learning year focused on development. Our three year WRC strategy shows that our plan worked and it is payback for working with passion and patience. A podium place at the beginning of the season shows the potential and gives us the necessary confidence and motivation for the future. Both drivers finished with a clever strategy; Gilles performed very well with his great experience, and Harri was cool enough not to take risks and equaled his best Tarmac result". Today’s closing 116.08 competitive kilometers took the crews directly north of Monaco for two identical loops of three stages, including the classic run over the famous Col de Turini where spectators are drawn in their thousands. The Panizzi brothers once again made their mark in what is viewed as one of the most treacherous and unpredictable rounds of the series. They set third, fifth and another third fastest time in the opening three stages and while others around them fell by the wayside, the French Lancer WRC05 crew climbed onto the provisional podium in third position. They maintained a consistent pace in the closing three stages to register their best-ever result in their home round of the series. "For me, I said before that it was important for my team; they needed this success and now they and everyone else can see that Mitsubishi is back", said a delighted Gilles in Monaco this afternoon. "Today we have arrived! This result is very important for everyone’s confidence and I feel good that the mechanics and engineers have something to be very proud about. I have driven good cars here in the past, but I have never achieved such a result. To finish third, at home, and more importantly on the most famous event in the championship is incredible. Monte-Carlo is Monte-Carlo; I feel fantastic!" Team-mates Harri Rovanperä and Risto Pietiläinen maintained their seventh position, the Finnish duo having gained vital competition experience behind the wheel of the Lancer WRC05. They claimed points in both championships and equaled their best result on Tarmac in the process (Spain 2002). "To have two cars at the finish, both in the points and Gilles and Hervé on the podium is fantastic", said Harri. "It has been a long time since I drove on Tarmac but it has gone quite well for us. I am now looking forward to Sweden with more confidence. We have a good set-up and hopefully there will be good winter conditions where we can fight". Adding to the drivers’ comments, Technical Director Mario Fornaris said: "One year ago we came here with a lot of concerns and it was a nice surprise to finish. This year, we finished on the podium after a fantastic rally. It is the best reward to the team members and I want to thank everyone". The second round of the FIA World Rally Championship takes the crews north to the Swedish Rally (February 10-13) and a totally different challenge on snow. Harri Rovanperä and Risto Pietiläinen - who won the event in 2001 - will again spearhead Mitsubishi’s assault and be joined by Italian’s "Gigi" Galli and Guido D’Amore in the second Lancer WRC05. News from our rivals... Sébastien Loeb claimed a hat-trick of Rallye Monte-Carlo victories today, the French Citroën driver cruising to the finish with an emphatic two minute 58.3 second advantage. Toni Gardemeister, Ford’s new recruit, recorded his best-ever finish in a World Championship rally when he arrived back in Monaco in a fine second position and picked up the Star of the Rally Award along the way. Behind Gilles Panizzi, in fourth, was Peugeot’s new signing Markko Märtin with team-mate Marcus Grönholm behind him in fifth. The Finnish 307WRC driver was lucky to reach the finish after ripping a wheel off earlier in the day. He dropped five minutes limping through the stage and plummeted from second to fifth. Former World Rally Champion Petter Solberg was not so lucky. The Norwegian went off the road in the same stage, damaging the front left wheel and forcing him into retirement.

FINAL OVERALL CLASSIFICATION   Driver / Co-driver Nat. Car Gr/Cl Total Time Difference 1   Sébastien LOEB / Daniel Elena F/MC  CITROEN Xsara WRC A8 M 4.13.05.6    2   Toni GARDEMEISTER / Jakke Honkanen FIN  FORD Focus RS WRC 04 A8 M 4.16.03.9  2.58.3  3   Gilles PANIZZI / Hervé Panizzi F  MITSUBISHI Lancer WRC05 A8 M 4.16.45.7  3.40.1  4   Markko MARTIN / Michael Park EE/GB  PEUGEOT 307 WRC A8 M 4.18.33.3  5.27.7  5   Marcus GRONHOLM / Timo Rautiainen FIN  PEUGEOT 307 WRC A8 M 4.20.39.4  7.33.8  6   Manfred STOHL / Ilka Minor A  CITROEN Xsara WRC A8 4.21.14.5  8.08.9  7   Harri ROVANPERA / Risto Pietiläinen FIN  MITSUBISHI Lancer WRC05 A8 M 4.21.34.9  8.29.3  8   Roman KRESTA / Jan Tománek CZ  FORD Focus RS WRC 04 A8 M 4.22.23.7  9.18.1  9   Alexandre BENGUE / Caroline Escudero F  SKODA Fabia WRC A8 M 4.23.37.6  10.32.0  10   Antony WARMBOLD / Damien Connelly D/IRL  FORD Focus RS WRC 04 A8 4.28.14.7  15.09.1  11   Kris MEEKE / Chris Patterson GB  CITROEN C2 A6 J 4.35.55.6  22.50.0  12   Kosti KATAJAMAKI / Timo Alanne FIN  SUZUKI Ignis A6 J 4.36.10.1  23.04.5  13   Alan SCORCIONI / Silvio Stefanelli I  SUZUKI Ignis A6 J 4.37.35.9  24.30.3  14   Stéphane SARRAZIN / Patrick Pivato F  SUBARU Impreza WRC 04 A8 M 4.37.42.8  24.37.2  15   Daniel SORDO / Marc Marti E  CITROEN C2 A6 J 4.38.22.1  25.16.5  16   Luca BETTI / Giovanni Agnese I  RENAULT Clio A6 J 4.39.19.2  26.13.6  17   Eamonn BOLAND / Francis Regan IRL/GB  SUBARU Impreza WRC 03 A8 4.39.39.6  26.34.0  18   Per-Gunnar ANDERSSON / J. Andersson S  SUZUKI Ignis A6 J 4.39.55.8  26.50.2  19   Guy WILKS / Phil Pugh GB  SUZUKI Ignis A6 J 4.40.46.9  27.41.3  20   Pavel VALOUSEK / Pierangelo Scalvini CZ  SUZUKI Ignis A6 J 4.41.10.4  28.04.8

Nationalities: A=Austria/ CZ=Czech Republic/ D=Germany/ E=Spain/ EE=Estonia/ F=France/ FIN=Finland/ GB=Great Britain/ I=Italy/ IRL=Ireland/ MC=Monte Carlo/ S=Sweden/

M: drivers nominated in the FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers J: drivers eligible for FIA Junior World Rally Championship points

(by mitsubishi-motors.com)