Smooth sailing for OMV Kronos Citroen at shakedownThe overture to the Rally Mexico, the fourth run to the FIA World Rally Championship 2007, was very satisfying for the OMV Kronos Citroen World Rally Team. OMV duo Manfred Stohl/Ilka Minor had no problems with the extreme
altitude during the shakedown on Thursday and finished in fifth place in front of Vice-World Champion Marcus Grönholm. Thus Stohl built up self-confidence for his goal: a place on the podium.
OMV driver Manfred Stohl in the Citroen Xsara WRC felt right at home during the shakedown of the Rally Mexico. After all, it was the first time this season he was able to perform on his favourite surface, gravel. The extreme altitude – special stages lead up to 2.800 metres sea level – also posed no problem to the OMV Kronos Citroen World Rally Team.
Thus the 34-year-old Viennese finished the shakedown in fifth place with 2:52,0 minutes, leaving Vice-World Champion Marcus Grönholm in his wake. Stohl: "I am very content. The car is performing perfectly and I am happy to finally be back on gravel again.
I am also convinced that I can score points here, especially since the roads are very hard and in better condition than last year. The speed could nevertheless be very high this time around and it will also be quite spectacular since several very high jumps have been added to the stages.“
End result shakedown:
01. Dani Sordo/Marc Marti (Spa) Citroen C4 WRC 2:49,2 min.
02.
Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (F) Citroen C4 WRC +2:49,8 min.
03. Petter Solberg/Philip Mills (N) Subaru Impreza WRC 2:50,8 min.
04. Chris Atkinson/Glenn MacNeall (Aus) Subaru Impreza WRC 2:51,6 min.
05. Manfred Stohl/Ilka Minor (A) Citroen Xsara WRC 2:52,0 min.
06. Marcus Grönholm/Timo Rautiainen (Fin) Ford Focus WRC 2:53,2 min.
OMV Citroen Kronos WRT
