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Mitsubishi's World Rally Car still on target

Mitsubishi Ralliart team boss Andrew Cowan says the company's first ever World Rally Car is still on schedule for a debut on October's Sanremo Rally

Mitsubishi is alone among the WRC's manufacturers in running a Group A car, but has finally committed to the World Rally Car route and the extra flexibility of design it offers.

"It will be tight, but I'm not worried," said Cowan. "We'll be testing in July in Europe, and then our Step One car will be ready for Sanremo in October."

Mitsubishi will introduce its WRC car in two stages, with the first step using current Lancer Evo VI running gear in the new Lancer Cedia shell. The full second step car will be rallied for the first time on the 2002 Monte Carlo Rally.

Tommi Makinen is currently heading the WRC drivers' standings in the Gp A Lancer, but that has not forced a re-think by the team on when to introduce the new car, despite concerns that teething problems could blunt the Finn's attack.

"It's a concern," said Cowan, "but because we're thinking about it early, it shouldn't cause a problem."

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