Catalunya - OMV Kronos Citroen WRT - PreviewThe OMV Kronos Citroen World Rally Team will be fully manned once again at the Rallye RACC Catalunya – Costa Daurada, the eleventh run to the FIA World Rally Championship.
Just like in Germany, Francois Duval and Patrick
Pivato will steer a Citroen Xsara WRC beside Austrians Manfred Stohl and Ilka Minor. Chances are high that both OMV Teams will score points: following Duval's sensational second place in Germany, Stohl also wants to prove his prowess on tarmac.
Manfred Stohl still has an account to settle with the Rally of Spain. Following his testing-accident last year, the 35-year-old Austrian had finished in twelfth overall place.
Stohl: "Each time we cut Ilka's and my own ribs hurt like hell, which made it very hard to focus on driving. Besides that I really like it in Spain. But one surely can't compare this rally to the WRC-run in Germany. The grip should be much stronger here. And that definitely suits us."
In any case, the OMV driver hopes for a problem-free rally since at the last three events, retirements and technical problems were the rule rather than the exception.
Francois Duval can look back on an impeccable balance in Spain. In 2003 he came in fourth with a Ford Focus WRC, while in 2005 he finished second in the Citroen Xsara WRC, and last year saw him in sixth place in a Skoda Fabia WRC. Therefore the Belgian OMV driver is a legitimate candidate for a podium place.
Duval's second place in Germany also had another positive consequence since, besides Spain, he will also compete in the OMV Kronos Citroen Xsara WRC in the next tarmac WRC-run in Corsica which will take place one week later.
Duval: "I am very happy that I was offered this opportunity. It proves that success is being rewarded. I hope that I will be able to return the favour by reaching further top results."
Source OMV Kronos Citroen WRT
