High hopes for new Subaru

The Norwegian, who won the title for Subaru in 2003, says he felt good in the hatchback WRC2008 during test and is excited about the car's first event.

"We've had a few days in the new car and I have a good feeling from it," he said. "I really hope we'll be in a good position to fight at the front.

"It's a very difficult event, very rocky and hot, and the stages are rough so it's hard on us and the cars. But we finished third here last year and this time we have the new car so I'll be really pushing for a strong result."

Subaru World Rally Team principal David Richards also believes that the introduction of the new car will be a big step forward, even in its first event.

"Acropolis will see a very different Subaru team as we return to full strength with the debut of the new car," he said. "I'm confident of a very positive step forward in our pace in Greece, despite it being the toughest event of the year."

The team's operations director Paul Howarth believes the new Impreza is ready for its first rally and aims to use one of the toughest events on the WRC calendar to help develop the car.

"We've done a considerable amount of endurance mileage which should stand us in good stead," he said. "The rally is bound to throw up new challenges to those we've faced in testing and it's an event that's likely to throw up surprises.

"It will be a good, tough weekend to quickly highlight the areas in which we can fine tune and continue to improve."