Natalie out to exploit 'girl power' in Cyprus.

This is an event where it pays to be a woman - that's the verdict of OMV World Rally Team driver, Natalie Barratt as she prepares for the arduous Cyprus Rally this weekend in a brand new Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII.

With temperatures inside the car reaching a stamina sapping 50 degrees centigrade, Britain's leading female rally driver hopes to emulate her best ever finish on the World Rally stage. Back in 2002, Natalie steered her Group N Mitsubishi Lancer to 21st place overall and third place in the FIA Teams' Cup.

"The female body is able to cope far more effectively with the soaring temperatures, which is why I can jump out of the car at the end of the stage and most of my male counterparts struggle, gasping with the heat," explained Barratt, who will be contesting her new car in the Production Car World Rally Championship [PCWRC] category.

"Because men sweat more than women, they are more susceptible to heat illness as they become more quickly dehydrated. Similarly, women store more glycogen than men and are therefore particularly suited to endurance events."

After a tough start to her 2005 campaign in New Zealand last month - finishing 38th out of 64th - Natalie is eager to get back behind the wheel on the unforgiving gravel tracks of Cyprus.

"We went to New Zealand stating an intention to bring the car home, we're going to Cyprus to try and get a result," she added. "The stages are a demanding mixture of twists and turns up and down the hillsides. The twisty nature of the event means you're stuck in 2nd and 3rd, so the gearbox and brakes get a real pounding.

"If it's raining, Cyprus can be lethal. In fact it becomes lethal with no grip as the tyres get clogged up with red clay."