2008 DRIVER LINE-UP ANNOUNCED by STOBART MOTORSPORT
December 21, 2007
After a truly outstanding season in this year’s FIA World Rally Championship, the Stobart VK M-Sport Ford rally team will continue into 2008 with an exciting new force in the ranks. This season Jari-Matti Latvala caused shockwaves throughout the WRC paddock with his performances and, with his promotion to the BP-Ford team, the opportunity to fill some big shoes has been given to Italian superstar Gigi Galli.
Henning Solberg and Matthew Wilson will continue with the team in 2008 on all 15 rounds after superb performances this year, especially during the final quarter where both drivers achieved their highest results. All three drivers will have upgraded artillery in the form of the Ford Focus RS WRC 07; an evolution model from the 06 specification used by the Stobart team in the 2007 championship.
M-Sport will again run the Stobart outfit after a successful venture which has seen increasingly positive performances and overall results over the past two years. Malcolm Wilson will again offer expert guidance and management as Team Principal in 2008.
Galli’s addition to the team will see him compete on all 15 rounds in a Stobart liveried car as the team’s permanent nominated points scoring driver. The second scoring driver position will be left open during the year as the team looks to battle for a place on the manufacturers’ championship podium for the second year running.
Fulfilling this position in next season’s opening round, Rally Monte-Carlo, will be a fourth Stobart entrant as Belgian François Duval jumps into a Stobart liveried car to score for the team. Duval is no stranger to the blue oval as he competed as a works driver in the Ford camp on various occasions from 2002 to 2004.
Stobart’s fourth place finish in the manufacturers’ championship this season will mean a numeral change for next year as the two points scoring Stobart Focus RS’ pick up numbers seven and eight on the livery. Wilson will retain his number 16 tag next year for those events where he is not nominated to score for the team.
The 2008 WRC season will see a reduced 15-round championship taking competitors across the globe spanning five continents. Next year also marks a new era in WRC history as Jordan becomes the first Arab country to be introduced into the championship.
The final change for 2008 sees Rally Turkey back in the action after a year’s break from the WRC. Rally Ireland and Norway are being rested for 2008 after both hosting their inaugural events in the world championship this year.
2008 is set to be another top year for the Stobart team which, in its short history, has helped develop some of world rallying’s finest young talent.
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team Principal Malcolm Wilson said:
“It's set to be another exciting year for the Stobart team after such a successful season this year. Jari-Matti's promotion to the BP-Ford Abu Dhabi team has left an opportunity for someone to join this very competitive squad and we are happy to announce that it will be Italian driver Gigi Galli. Gigi has a wealth of experience in the WRC and I'm sure will be a great asset for the team. Matthew and Henning will again be part of the Stobart team after some fantastic performances in the 2007 championship. The battle this year with Subaru came down to the final event in Wales and next year things are again looking strong for the Stobart squad.
Stobart wrc motorsport
WRC - Ora è ufficiale: Gigi Galli nel 2008 con il team Stobart!
La notizia circolava già da qualche tempo, dal giorno in cui il Lupo di Livigno fu avvistato durante un test in un aeroporto d’Oltremanica, ma ora è arrivata l’ufficialità: Gigi Galli correrà la stagione 2008 con il team Stobart Ford.
Galli, a differenza dei compagni di squadra Henning Solberg e Matthew Wilson, anch’essi impegnati in tutti e 15 appuntamenti, sarà nominato in ogni appuntamento per la conquista dei piloti nel Mondiale Costruttori.
Un ritorno da vera e propria prima guida, da Team Leader per Galli, che (ri)darà l’assalto al Mondiale WRC dopo le due sfortunate stagioni con il team Bozian-Pirelli prima e il team Aimont-PH Sport in questa stagione.
Inoltre, i numeri di gara saranno più “bassi”, e cioè al posto del 9 e 10 usati in questa stagione, verranno sostituiti dal 7 e l’8, alla luce del quarto posto conseguito in campionato.
WRC - Gigi Galli: "Non vedo l'ora di cominciare"
Quest’anno ha disputato solo tre gare di Campionato del Mondo, ma finalmente il prossimo anno Gigi Galli potrà disputare tutta la stagione con il team Stobart VK M-Sport Ford e sarà supportato fattivamente, come nel passato, da Pirelli.
“E’ un grandissimo onore e una grande gioia per me poter finalmente disputare un intero campionato”, ha dichiarato Galli. “In questi ultimi due anni ho potuto partecipare solo a poche gare, poter disputare un’intera stagione è quello a cui ho sempre mirato.
“L’opportunità che mi è stata offerta dal team Stobart VK M-Sport Ford e il continuo sostegno della Pirelli, mi danno la possibilità di mettere a frutto l’esperienza fino ad ora accumulata. Non vedo l’ora di iniziare a lavorare con la squadra e di cominciare a conoscere la macchina per arrivare preparato al Rally Montecarlo”.
I primi test con la vettura Campione del Mondo 2007 cominceranno ad inizio Gennaio 2008 in preparazione al primo appuntamento della stagione, il 76° Rally Montecarlo in programma dal 24 al 27 Gennaio.
Racing World
Galli joins Stobart Ford for '08
Gigi Galli will replace Jari-Matti Latvala at the Stobart Ford team in next year's WRC, the team have announced.
The Italian made a handful of appearances in the 2007 championship, but he will complete a full season next year.
Galli will be nominated for manufacturer points at every event, while the team will decide through the year which of his two teammates - Henning Solberg and Matthew Wilson - is also nominated.
"Jari-Matti's promotion to the BP Ford team has left an opportunity for someone to join this squad and we are happy to announce that it will be Gigi," said team boss Malcolm Wilson.
"Gigi has a wealth of experience and I'm sure he will be a great asset for the team."
The team's three regular drivers will be joined by Francois Duval for the season-opening Monte Carlo rally.
By Glenn Freeman Friday, December 21st 2007, 12:12 GMT
other info :
autosport
Rally Live
.
Nessun commento:
Posta un commento