Martin pleased with new Focus WRC04 26/03/2004 16:20:59 Rally Mexico winner Markko Martin is upbeat after testing Ford's latest evolution of its successful Focus WRC for the first time in Portugal. The Estonian, along with his team-mate Francois Duval, spent this week giving the new WRC04 a comprehensive shake-down on gravel stages near Ponte de Lima, previously used on the old Rally Portugal event. The car incorporated a number of developments over the already proven WRC03, including a new front bumper and 2004-specification Cosworth engine. It will make its competitive debut on Rally New Zealand on April 15. "We completed quite a lot of development work, which went well," Martin said. "We learned some things, which is the aim of any test programme, and I was pleased with the way it went." Martin has also dismissed any fears about the pace of the new Subaru Impreza WRC2004, which blitzed the field in Rally Mexico with nine stage wins out of the 15 run on the event. The new Focus WRC04 and and updated Citroen Xsara will go head-to-head with the new Subaru for the first time on Rally New Zealand. "At the moment, I'm not worried about what Markko did in Mexico," he said in Autosport this week. "There are lots of unknowns about Mexico, like the altitude and tyres he was on. But, if he sets nine fastest times in New Zealand, then maybe I'll be a bit more worried." 墨西哥分站冠军Markko Martin对於最新版本的Focus WRC在葡萄牙 的测试感到相当满意. 这位爱沙尼亚的车手以及他的队友Francois Duval这周在靠近 Ponte de Lima的碎石路面进行详尽的测试. 这条路线之前是 葡萄牙站的一条路线. 新版本的Focus作了一些改良;包括新的 前保险杆及2004版本的Cosworth引擎. 新版的Focus将会在四月 十五日的的纽西兰站亮相。 "我们完成了许多发展工作，而且进行的的很顺利"，Martin说到。 "我们学的不少事，而这也次每个测试的目的，我对发展的进度相当满意。" 新版的Focus令Martin对落後於Subaru的发展脚步的疑虑一扫而空。 Subaru的WRC2004在墨西哥站表现杰出，十五个Stage中，拿下九个 Stage首位。新版的Focus与Citreon Xsara及Subaru WRC2004将在 纽西兰站作面对面对决。 "现在我不太担心Markko在墨西哥的表现"Petter Solberg说到。 "在墨西哥站有太多的未知，像是高度及选用。但是如果他能在 纽西兰站一样拿到九个Stage首位，我可能会担心一点" http://www.wrc.com/en_GB/News/2004/002/2004_R_martinhappywithnewfocuswrc04.htm -- PSYCHO MOUNTAIN BIKER http://www.formosanfattire.com --

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