Teams cautious on new rules

WRC rounds are now run using a shorter format, with two days of reconnaissance and administration on Wednesday and Thursday, immediately followed by three days of rallying.

The Mexican event was also the first to use a new flexi-service system in which one car is serviced at a time, as well as new tyre rules whereby teams are restricted as to what specification they can choose.

Ford team boss Malcolm Wilson said the new format worked in Mexico but questioned whether it would on other rallies. "From a team point of view, it works," he explained. "We took 30 percent less people to Mexico, and that's a direct cost saving.

"Here it's been okay because the stages are close to the service. But when we go to more spread-out events such as Australia and New Zealand, it will be hard for organisers and teams. Some personnel aren't going to get to bed until 1am, which is far from ideal."

Co-drivers argued before Rally Mexico that the new recce format was too compact, making it difficult to accurately write pace notes. That view was backed up after the event, too.

Stephane Prevot, who co-drove Ford's Francois Duval to second in Mexico, said: "Rally Mexico was very compact, with not too many notes, but for Cyprus I would think it would be impossible," he said.

"There are too many corners in Cyprus to drive at a slow speed like that. Here it hasn't been so bad with the average speed a bit higher. This is something we have to think about."

Rally winner Markko Martin's co-driver Michael Park agreed, saying: "Working two days on a recce is very hard. We had a lot of work in the evenings. For me, the perfect solution would be to do this on a Tuesday and Wednesday and still have the Thursday free for a ceremonial start. At the moment, I think it's a little bit too compressed."