WRC Rd 4: Loeb wins, Solberg leads title, Peugeot extends lead

Isao Torii, Head of Mitsubishi Motors Motor Sports: "Even though Gigi added to his and the team’s points tally, this has been a disappointing rally for us. We expected more but have experienced technical problems and for this we cannot be happy. Both cars finished the stages, but we struggled with the tire wear and we have to analyse this, do our homework and work to overcome such problems".

Mario Fornaris, Mitsubishi Technical Director: "Harri ended up driving with no rubber on the rear wheels on the road section back to Auckland and there was no sense in carrying on like this. On the one hand this has been our most difficult event this year, but Gigi continues to perform well and very consistently. We have to continue working with Pirelli, as tires have been our main problem during this rally. We know that Harri has a more aggressive driving style, which causes the tires to wear maybe 10/20% more, but we have to find some solution to this".

The Next Round

Round five of the FIA World Rally Championship, the all-gravel Rally Italia Sardinia, starts on 29 April. Despite moving to the spring for 2005 from it's previous autumn date, the character of the event should remain largely the same, featuring medium to fast roads covered in fine gravel. The rally will be based in the millionaire's resort of Porto Cervo, while the service and headquarters will be situated at the industrial port of Olbia. Including 17 stages and 530 competitive kilometres, the three-day event will conclude on Sunday 1 May.

Odds for WRC Drivers Title After Race

P Solberg 2.00 S Loeb 2.37 M Gronholm 8.00 M Martin 9.00 T Gardemeister 15.00 F Duval 67.00 H Rovanpera 81.00 G Panizzi 101.00