Geared up for Cyprus Rally
LIMASSOL (Reuters) – Peugeot’s Richard Burns and Marcus Gronholm set out to show that they can take the rough with the smooth in the world rally championship this weekend. The Cyprus Rally, starting tomorrow, is the first round of the season to be run on gravel after the last three asphalt rallies dominated by champions Peugeot. The French team have taken 52 points out of a possible 64 and reigning world champion Burns and 2000 title holder Gronholm will be among the favorites on the loose tracks and in the searing temperatures around Limassol. Finland’s Gronholm, who leads the championship, is looking for better results this year after retiring his 206 WRC for the past two seasons in a row. «We have never been strong in Cyprus until now but in comparison with last year, the 206 has made big strides forward in terms of reliability,» said Gronholm. «I really believe that we can be competitive now in the rougher rallies.» Gronholm leads French asphalt specialist Gilles Panizzi by a point after four rounds, three on asphalt and one on ice and snow in Sweden. But Briton Burns, who is eight points behind Gronholm, believes he can close the gap. The Englishman fancies his chances in the Troodos mountains as the drivers face 20 stages where average speeds can be as low as 60 kilometers per hour. «For the drivers, Cyprus is something of a rally apart. The stages are extremely slow and have to be approached in a different way to other events,» said Burns. «I am expecting the battle to be much closer than it was in the recent asphalt events.» With Peugeot out in front in the manufacturers’ race, second-placed Ford must try to reduce a 27-point gap with their rivals. The British-based team are boosted by the return of Spanish co-driver Luis Moya, who will return to the passenger seat alongside compatriot and former champion Carlos Sainz, after recovering from injury. Moya suffered two broken ribs following a testing accident prior to the Rally of Catalunya last month and the 41-year-old will brave the pain despite missing pre-event testing. «The doctor told me that I would not be 100 percent for the rally,» Moya said. «I feel about 80 percent but that is enough for me. I still have some pain but I expected that. I may use some strapping around my ribs under my racing overalls.» Team-mate Colin McRae won in Cyprus last year but will have to overcome the pain from a broken finger if he is to repeat that success. His injury is healing rapidly and he will discard the heavy strapping used when he scored a point for a sixth-place finish in Spain. The three-day event covers more than 1,300 km and will provide an early indicator of this season’s title fight with eight of the last 10 rounds on gravel. It will use a single service park on the seafront in Limassol and will become the shortest World Championship event in history with 324.17 kilometers of competitive stages.
