90 crews from 18 countries will be there
Japan`s northern most island - is gearing up for world rally action, as a full entry list prepares to descend on the town for the thirteenth round of the FIA World Rally Championship.
A field of 90 cars, representing 18 countries from around the world, are due to take the ceremonial start in central Obihiro on Thursday 29th September.
In addition to the WRC regulars and a large number of national competitors are several entries that were not on last year`s list.

The Mitsubishi team will compete on their home world rally event for the first time, and have entered three cars in what they say is their most important round of the season. Gigi Galli will join regular Mistubishi drivers Harri Rovanpera and Gilles Panizzi; the latter is competing in Japan for the first time.

Skoda Motorsport is also new to Japan and will debut the new Skoda Fabia WRC05, as well as give introduce Armin Schwarz his first competitive visit here. Mikko Hirvonen, who came seventh in last year`s event, was scouted to drive the second Fabia.

Peugeot`s replacement entry, Daniel Carlsson and Matthias Andersson, attended the event before it gained WRC status in 2003. While Carlsson drove the stages in a completely different type of car, the weather conditions were more similar then to the cooler conditions now that the event is held in September.

Cooler weather will be one of the features of this year`s rally - held four weeks later than last year`s event. Milder temperatures, lower humidity and no typhoons are forecast though there is a possibility of rainfall in the stages. Shorter daylight hours will also result.

The people of Obihiro and all of Japan are anticipating new entries with enthusiasm. The town and rally office are catering for an increase of 30 percent of spectators with people coming from throughout the island of Hokkaido, Japan and indeed the world coming to see their rally stars in action. One of the draw cards of the rally is the friendly yet enthusiastic nature of the locals, the uniquely spectacularly scenery in the region as well as the free rally parks, and other spectator-friendly initiatives.

The ceremonial start takes place in central Obihiro at 1900h on Thursday 29th September, with special stages taking place on Friday morning in the Tokachi region of Hokkaido.


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