RALLY: Rallye Movistar Cataluny, Toyota Castro Team Notes
19 April 1999
Spanish hero and asphalt ace - the keys to victoryTwo podium places in Portugal extended Toyotas lead in the FIA World Rally Championship and now, heading to Spain, the Toyota Castrol Team has high hopes of a second consecutive one-two over the asphalt mountain roads of Vic, Girona and Tarragona. Rallye Catalunya (19-21 April) is home territory for double World Champions Carlos Sainz and Luis Moya, while team-mates Didier Auriol and Denis Giraudet hold the prized trophy from the 1998 event. The odds are tipped in favour of the Toyota Corolla WRC drivers following recent substantial test and development work.
"Of course, for me, it is one of the best places to score a victory," said Carlos. "I think Catalunya has always been very tight, the differences between the cars are very small but I'm certain we will be in the fight. An easy, agile, positive and well balanced car that you can trust and use to the last centimetre of the road is important on tarmac, this will help make the tyre wear evenly, but also the brakes, engine, suspension - everything has to be right. We will be also using a revised shock absorber here which, during testing, has been very good.
"This year we have done quite a lot during testing and there is a change in the cars asphalt specification. It is maybe only for a small change in performance, but still significant. The differentials have been further developed, we have an evolution of the brakes, differences in the suspension, the engine. We will see what happens, but it is my aim to win again" says Didier.
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