FEARLESS German Armin Schwarz sets off as favourite to win the non world championship but still prestigious Monte Carlo Rally today.
Schwarz will be driving a new Toyota Celica GT Four entered by private Italian team Grifone and bought from Toyota Team Europe after they were banned for cheating in the Catalonia Rally in Spain in October.
The car has been prepared to exactly the same specification had the works team not been thrown out of the 1996 world series.
Most leading constructors are shunning the winter classic, which still carries its unique multi city start, and will begin their seasons with the championship opener in Sweden next month.
"At the time they were banned, Toyota were preparing cars to come here, knowing that the race would not be part of the world championship," said rally official Rene Isoart.
"It's a pity because we believe that if they had been allowed to come, others would have followed."
The competitive section of the rally starts from Valence, in the Drome region on Monday and crosses the Ardeche and the Alps, before the traditional Wednesday night finale in the mountains overlooking Monaco.
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