Germany : OMV Peugeot Norway - PreviewOn Monday the OMV Peugeot Norway World Rally Team got into the mood for the OMV ADAC Rallye, the ninth round of the FIA World Rally Championship.
120 kilometres of testing were completed in the vinyards near the special stage “Bosenberg”.
Afterwards the OMV Team Stohl/Minor was full of confidence. From Friday on the new insights will be put to the test. And the 34-year-old Austrian can focus completely on the driver WRC points standings since the OMV Peugeot Norway WRT will only compete with one car in Germany and therefore cannot score in the manufacturer ranking.
It is no secret that Manfred Stohl hasn't been too fortunate at the OMV ADAC Rallye so far. The Austrian had to fight with technical car problems during each of his three participations. It is definitely time for a change this year.
Following one day's testing in the vinyards on Monday the OMV driver is getting into WRC mood. Stohl: “The tests in the vinyards were promising. We did some tyre testing and tried out several new differentials. And I do think that we found the right set-up for the rally. Now I'm into gear for the WRC.”
Of the tarmac stages at the OMV ADAC Rallye Manfred Stohl prefers the ones in the vinyards which will be completed on the first day.
“Even though I took off there last year. I just like them immensely. There you really have to show true grit in order to keep up with the top.”
Manfred Stohl can fully focus on the driver WRC at the OMV ADAC Rallye. Henning Solberg will only join the team again one week later in Finland. After halftime in the FIA World Rally Championship the OMV driver ranks fifth with 20 points.
It is a position Manfred Stohl plans to improve since Mikko Hirvonen (Fin/Ford WRC) is only one point ahead of him. Stohl: “During this season I've already proven that I can score on tarmac. And last year in Germany we were extremely close to
Sebastien Loeb on several special stages. Furthermore, the fight will be even tighter if rain should set in.”
Press release OMV Peugeot Norway
