Aftr hanging on with an aging car last year. Mitusbishi has finally updated its weapon for the 21st Century.

There are all sorts of doubts about whether the team will be able to develop a car that is scheduled to develop throughout the season.

It will start the season with what is effectively a new car, and make changes to it through the year, before the definitive version makes its debut in San Remo in October.

But it would be foolish to write Mistusbishi off, even if this is a development year.

Past its sell-by date

Tommi Makinen may have had his run of titles stopped at four last year, but he has lost none of his skill and determination.

And Ralliart, the team that runs Mitusbishi's programme, is a formidable force that can probably be relied upon to get things right more or less from the off.

The fact that the car has showed good form in testing also serves to back up the view that MItsubishi will do better from the start than some expect.

Makinen won the Rally Australia last year in a car that was well past its sell-by date. If he can do that, he can win events in a new car.

"I want to win back my drivers' title," he says. It might be unlikely, but don't bet against it.