Peugeot 'Focus' on dirt

Peugeot's new car has better weight balance

The Rally World Championship's sixth round takes place in Cyprus between 1-3 June - and significantly the surface is dirt.

Peugeot won in Sweden's snow and on the Catalan tarmac but on the dirt of Argentina last time out none of the team's drivers finished.

Peugeot's Didier Auriol, Harri Rovanpera and world champion Marcus Gronholm will drive a new hardier 206 model over Cyprus' 1,252 km - with 22 super special stages covering 341km.

Cyprus is not one of my favourite rallies

  Colin McCrae

"It's a tougher car," said the team's sports director Corrado Provera, who has put the car through its paces over 2,500km of trials by all three drivers, including trials in Cyprus.

"We thought twice about it but we had to launch it sooner or later," said technical director Michel Nandan.

The car has better weight balance, a new cooling system, five gears and is lighter than the previous car.

But it is Ford - who dominated in Argentina - and the up-and-running Focus that is already proven on dirt and gravel.

It would be a major upset if Peugeot's drivers challenge the Ford men.

Colin McRae, who won in Argentina, and Carlos Sainz, who came third despite a spinal disc injury, look set to take Cyprus in their stride - despite reservations.

Focus: Ford will look to continue their dominance on dirt

"I've never been so relieved in my life as when I won in Argentina," said McRae.

"We proved in Argentina that the car is quick enough and we got the win that we needed. A few more now would be nice.

"But Cyprus is not one of my favourite rallies because the stages are twisty and slow and it's hard to find a rhythm. That makes it difficult and it's also very hot in the car."

Sainz had been worried about starting at Cyprus but will definitely be behind the wheel on 1 June.

"It feels much better than it did during the rally in Argentina," said the 39-year-old.

"It needs rest so I will be following the physiotherapy programme right up to the rally in Cyprus and I don't need an operation which is a big relief."

Meanwhile Cyprus organisers are banking on a second successful rally to stave off a bid from Germany, eager to knock Cyprus off the championship calendar and take its place.

"We have to fight and be alert all the time, as the biggest challenge comes from Germany to replace us because they are the biggest European market," said course clerk Takis Kyriakides.