Rovanpera Could Get on Podium

Lead Mitsubishi driver Harri Rovanpera is capable of clinching a podium finish on this week's Rally Finland, according to team principal Isao Torii

David Evans Aug 4, 2005, 10:13 PM

The Lancer WRC05 has benefited from a variety of engine revisions since the last event in Argentina, mainly aimed at improving the driveability of the car.

Torii said: "We saw what Harri was capable of last year. That's the kind of performance I want to see this time. We don't want retirement, we want the good result - the podium is possible.

"We are developing the car all of the time. Here we have several changes. The car has more torque in a wider power band and a new starting system. This makes it more driveable.

"As well as that, we have made some changes to the suspension. Our car has always flown very well over the jumps, but with the changes to the rebound, it will land nicely as well."

Rovanpera ended this morning's shakedown stage three seconds off the fastest time set by Peugeot's Marcus Gronholm. Mitsubishi's number two driver Gigi Galli was 0.9s slower than Rovanpera.