Ligato enters Curitiba with Mitsubishi

The 31-year-old Argentine was a regular in the Production Car World Rally Championship for 10 seasons, won the Curitiba event when it was named the Graciosa Rally, in 2000. He will compete again this year, albeit at the wheel of a Mitsubishi Lancer E10 - the Japanese firm's latest generation rally car.

Ligato's best championship result so far has been third overall in the 2005 Production Car World Rally Championship.

Mitsubishi's traditional Group N cars have struggled against the more competitive Super 2000-based machines rececently and the Japanese manufacturer is fourth in the standings after the Monte Carlo Rally. But Mitsubishi stands a strong chance of moving up to third in the table at the expense of the factory Skoda team, who are missing the trip to South America.

Ligato will team-up with regular navigator Ruben Garcia, who has partnered him for most of his professional career, including the 2001 Safari Rally where they placed seventh overall. The Safari Rally is the next event on the IRC schedule after Rally de Curitiba.

Mitsubishi will also be represented by Brazilian championship runner-up Oswald Scheer, who will be competing in a Mitsubishi Lancer E9 alongside co-driver Gilson Rocha.