Subaru World Rally Team's Impreza WRC2001s will compete on asphalt for the first time in Spain's Rallye Catalunya, starting on Friday, March 23.

New FIA tyre regulations will limit teams to just two tread patterns, according to SWRT Team Principal David Lapworth, who said: "We've worked with Pirelli to come up with the best solution, which for us is one wet tread and one dry, or slick type.

"I think the biggest challenge for us, and for the other leading teams, will be to correctly judge the right level of risk to take when trying to get the most performance from the car. There is no need for a smooth surface rally like Catalunya to cause a high retirement rate, but with so many good cars and drivers taking part this year I think the winning team will have to take some risks."

Just 12 days after the mud bath conditions of the Rally of Portugal, the fourth round of the FIA World Rally Championship, is based at the Mediterranean coastal town of Lloret de Mar. The sweeping, high-speed asphalt stages are in stark contrast to the wet gravel of Portugal and underline the diversity of the Championship.

Catalunya comprises 18 stages, and a total competitive distance of 383 km. On the morning of each leg, drivers will tackle three stages, which are then repeated in the opposite direction in the afternoon.

Legs One and Three are based around a single service point at Manlleu, 84 km north of Lloret's rally HQ, while Leg Two is centred around service at Port Aventura, 193 km along the coast.

Subaru will enter three cars for Catalunya. Richard Burns and Petter Solberg will be nominated to score Manufacturers' Championship points, and Markko Märtin will drive a third Subaru Impreza WRC2001.

David Lapworth said: "The team is delighted with the progress both Petter and Markko have made so far this season, which has not only been well beyond our expectations, but in extremely difficult conditions, especially in Sweden and Portugal.

"Again, there has been precious little to choose between the two young drivers for the second nomination in Spain."

Lapworth added: "In broad terms, asphalt specification cars are lower and stiffer than their gravel counterparts, and as they're not compromised by rough stage conditions we can focus more on absolute performance, rather than the more usual balance between performance and durability.

"The cars still have to be very strong, but I think it's true to say that the Imprezas that we will be running in Catalunya will have more in common with a touring car, than a gravel rally car. Compared to loose surfaces, more performance is available from the tyres so the set-up has been designed to exploit the increased grip.

"There is a big contrast between the stages to the north (Legs One and Three) which are on slippery and smooth asphalt, and those in the south (Leg Two) which are bumpy and more abrasive.

Richard Burns said: "I've got a good feeling ahead of the rally. Living in Andorra, Catalunya is almost another home rally for me.

"Although I would have liked to have collected a few more points by this time in the season, I'm still feeling confident and positive about my driving, and also my chances in the Championship.

"I've just finished a good pre-event test, the new car handles extremely well and Pirelli have made a further step forward with the tyres, especially with the consistency of the grip for longer stages."

Petter Solberg said: "I've never done the event before, although I've completed the recce for the past two years, so I've driven some of the stages. We'll just have to wait and see. I like driving on asphalt though, and after the test we did in Spain before Portugal I was able to experiment with different settings and get lots of practice with the Impreza. I'm happy that we have a good set-up and am looking forward to getting some proper on-event experience."

Markko Märtin said: "Catalunya is definitely my favourite asphalt rally. It has quite fast roads, which are not so twisty, so they're easier for people who are more used to gravel events. It's a well-organized event and I had a good time there last year, so I'm looking forward to it. The testing has been good and I've had no problems. This will be my first asphalt rally on Pirelli tyres, but the testing I did last month and last week in Spain has given me plenty of confidence in the Subaru package."

Catalunya will see the debut of the Citröen team, which becomes the seventh manufacturer in the Championship.

The French company will contest a limited number of events in their first year of WRC competition, and are entering two Xsara World Rally Cars, to be driven by Philippe Bugalski and Jesus Puras.

Catalunya will also see the debut of the new FIA Super 1600 Cup, effectively a junior version of the WRC, where teams will contest six rounds in two-wheel drive vehicles built to strict FIA regulations on weight, power and cost. A total of 23 cars are expected to start in Spain.

Data File - The Season So Far (including Portugal)
Data source: ISC, - based on all manufacturer entries

Fastest Stage Times
1: Makinen 13
2: C. McRae 9
3: = Burns 8
3: = Sainz 8
5: Rovanpera 4

Podiums
1: Ford 4
2: Mitsubishi 3
3: Peugeot 2

Did Not Finish
1: = Peugeot 6
1: = Subaru 6
3: Skoda 3
4: = Hyundai 2
4: = Mitsubishi 2
4: = Ford 2

Accident Retirement Ratio
1: = Ford 0%
1: = Hyundai 0%
3: Mitsubishi 14%
4: Skoda 17%
5: Subaru 20%
6: Peugeot 22%

Mechanical Retirement Ratio
1: Mitsubishi 14%
2: Ford 22%
3: = Skoda 33%
3: = Hyundai 33%
5: Subaru 40%
6: Peugeot 44%