Tommi Makinen completed a three-day winter test in Finland as he prepares to make his debut for the championship-winning Subaru Banbury team in Monte Carlo on Thursday.

Makinen drove an Impreza WRC test car for 570 kilometres, partnered by his gravel note driver Pasi Hagstrom, and Kaj Lindstr-m, who will substitute for regular co-driver Risto Mannisenmaki on the first two events of the season.

Testing concentrated on evaluating the latest snow tyre developments from team partner Pirelli ahead of February's Rally of Sweden, but also gave Makinen the chance to become more familiar with the car and to experiment with various suspension and differential settings.

The team's sporting director, George Donaldson said: "All our engineers are very excited about the developments Tommi is making to the car. It was a very positive test, but at the same time a bit of a voyage of discovery for Tommi.

"The depth of experience that he brings to the team is incredible, his status as a four-time world champion is being backed up by his actions and the methodical and positive way he approached the test."

Makinen said: "The test was very good. We had perfect conditions and were able to get three full days of work in. It's a good feeling in the car, it was working very well and there were no dramas.

"I think we found some new ideas during the test and we've got lots of information about the way the car behaves in the snow and I learned a bit more about it.

"The Subaru feels very good to drive in these conditions, it has a different balance to the Mitsubishi, and the way the differentials work feels different too, they're very progressive on the Subaru, which makes it quite easy to drive."

Risto firmly on road to recovery Banbury's Subaru World Rally Team says 32-year-old Finn Kaj Lindstr-m will replace for Risto Mannisenmaki as Tommi Makinen's co-driver for the first two events of the 2002 World Rally Championship season.

The swap will allow Risto to continue his recovery after an accident in October's Tour de Corse. It is hoped Mannisenmaki will be back for this year's event in March.

Mannisenmaki had surgery in France in October to repair a broken vertebra, and was later moved back home to Finland for physiotherapy. He said: "It's been almost two months since the accident and my recovery is going well. I'm back at home and lead a pretty normal life. The vertebra that was broken is healing fine, but I also damaged some of the nerves in my back and these will take a little longer to get back to 100 per cent.

Subaru World Rally Team sporting director George Donaldson said: "I spoke to Risto the day after the accident and before his operation and time neither of us knew what the future would bring. But now, it's business as usual and he's anxious to get back in a rally car."