Ford brings Duval to replace Galli for Repco Rally New Zealand
Ford brings Duval to replace Galli for Repco Rally New Zealand
The
Stobart
VK M-Sport Ford rally team has decided to enter François Duval in Repco Rally
New Zealand which starts on Thursday 28
August, following their lead driver Gigi Galli suffering a broken leg during
Rallye Deutschland on 15 August.
Duval will be the second
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford rally team entrant, joining the team's other driver
Matthew Wilson as the second nominated point-scoring driver.
Stobart
VK M-Sport Ford team principal Malcolm Wilson says the team will be very
happy to have François back in the Stobart team for New Zealand. "He did a great job in
Germany last weekend
[finishing third overall] and as he is already confirmed to compete in Spain and Corsica,
it will be a good opportunity for him to gain more valuable experience and time
in the car."
Usually a team may only
change one element of the entry but the Stobart team management are currently
requesting permission from the FIA to change both the driver and co-driver
elements due to the obvious safety issue brought about by a language barrier
between the Belgium-born Duval and Gilli's regular Italian co-driver Giovanni
Bernacchini. If this is confirmed, then Duval's co-driver Patrick Pivato will
join Duval for the event.
The team's decision comes
after Duval scored an amazing podium finish in Germany
last week and, as the Belgian is also contesting events in Spain and Corsica
later this year, it was the most logical decision to allow him more time behind
the wheel of the Stobart Ford Focus RS WRC07.
Duval has been utilised by
the Ford-backed manufacturer team as a tarmac specialist this season,
originally only scheduled to contest the tarmac events: Monte
Carlo, Germany, Spain and Corsica.
Wilson says Duval has
already demonstrated his ability to perform on fast gravel in the southern
hemisphere after he won Rally Australia
in 2005. Duval has also competed in New Zealand before, twice with Ford
in 2003 and 2004, and once with Citroën in 2005. He finished ninth in 2003,
eighteenth in 2005 and had his best finish in 2005 with a fourth. All three times he competed in Rally New Zealand he was partnered with experienced co-driver
Stéphane Prévot beside him; Prévot is now Subaru driver Chris Atkinson's
co-driver.
Repco Rally New
Zealand takes place from Thursday 28 August
until Sunday 31 August. Event passes, the programmes and rally map are
available from all Repco stores in New Zealand, online at www.repco.co.nz and at the event. Official
Repco Rally New Zealand merchandise is
available online from www.repco.co.nz and
at selected Repco stores, with regular news updates available on the event
website, www.rallynz.org.nz.
