IRC: JRM Rally Sardinia preview

JRM targets Group N success in Sardinia

* PG Andersson gets set to drive JRM Evo X in Rally d'Itali Sardegna

As announced a few weeks ago, JRM has entered leading Swedish driver Per-Gunnar (PG) Andersson in this weekend's Rally d'Italia Sardegna as part of its ongoing development programme for the Group N Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X.

Taking place in Sardinia, the event represents round five of the IRC (Intercontinental Rally Challenge), a series which is now regarded as the most competitive in the world for Class R4 cars, the category for Super-2000 and Group N4 models.

The rally sees the first time JRM has entered a round of the IRC, whereas in contrast, it will be Andersson's sixth visit, the previous five when he contested the World Rally Championship as a works driver for Suzuki.

The experienced Swede is therefore no stranger to the island's distinctive gravel roads and, although having driven a Mitsubishi in last year's Swedish Championship, this event will be his first in a JRM Evolution X - the car previously used by Jari Ketomaa to win the Vakunaa Rally in February and by Gwyndaf Evans to win the Pirelli Rally in April.

As is the norm in the IRC, the works S2000 cars have held the upper hand when it comes to performance and results this season. However, the JRM team is eager to see how its Mitsubishi matches up to these and the other Group N entries taking part this weekend.

The event headquarters and main service area are located in Olbia, with the start and opening Super Special stage taking place on Friday in Cagliari. Saturday sees six stages, followed by a further six on Sunday, the total of which provides a competitive distance of 219 kilometres.

Andersson will be partnered by his regular co-driver and fellow countryman Anders Fredriksson, the Swedish pair seeded number five on the entry list.

Team quotes

PG Andersson
"I was delighted when JRM asked me to drive one of their cars in Sardinia. It's both an honour and an opportunity. I last drove this rally in 2008 and I hope my experience will make a difference, especially as I am expecting the roads to be in better condition without the WRC cars this time. I will be testing the JRM Mitsubishi this week and I am sure that it won't take long to get used to it, especially as it's a car which has already had success this year."

John Barnes - Team Manager
"Although we are going to this event with an open mind as far as results are concerned, our aim is to be the best of the Group N field. However, it will also be interesting to see how our car performs against the Super 2000 entries. Either way, we face some stiff opposition, so a good result of any kind will represent a success for us."

James Rumsey - Team Principal
"We have already shown that our cars can be successful on any surface, having won in Finland on snow and in the UK on gravel and tarmac. We are therefore looking for new challenges and we see Sardinia and the IRC as the next stage in the development of the Evo X and, added to this, it allows us to show-case our cars to a wider and more international audience."

-source: jrm group