Stohl to drive OMV Kronos Citroen

[Plex]

Manfred Stohl has come up with a new team in time for the entry deadline for the FIA World Rally Championship. His successes so far enable the 34-year-old Austrian to compete once again in all 16 runs to the FIA World Rally Championship in 2007.

The assigned team will be the Belgian tuning wizards of Kronos Racing who, together with Sebastien Loeb won the driver WRC title in 2006.

The car will be the current World Champion-car, the Citroen Xsara WRC. For at least six runs Swede Daniel Carlsson will be the team-mate in the OMV Kronos Citroen World Rally Team.

Great opportunity with the OMV Kronos Citroen World Rally Team WRC fourth-placed Manfred Stohl and co-driver Ilka Minor will once again compete in 16 WRC runs in 2007. Thereby the 34-year-old Austrian will fall back on a well known vehicle. The OMV driver will once again take his seat in the Citroen Xsara WRC � the very car and team, Kronos Racing, that, together with Sebastien Loeb, became World Champion this year and celebrated eight victories.

�The fact alone that I will compete again in 16 runs next year seems like a dream,� said Stohl. �Even more exciting, it will be with the current World Champion team. I know Kronos Racing since I reached my first WRC podium places for them in 2005.
The team works perfectly and has the advantage of being supported by Citroen-Sport. This should give us the opportunity to reach top positions next year, as well.�

Stohl's team-mate in the OMV Kronos Citroen World Rally Team for at least six runs will be Daniel Carlsson. The 30-year-old Swede who as third-placed reached his first podium place at the Sweden Rally in 2006 will compete in Sweden, Norway, Portugal, Italy, Greece and Finland. Carlsson also celebrated his WRC debut in Sweden in 1999. So far he has taken part in 40 runs.

�It is an incredibly good feeling to be part of the OMV Kronos Citroen World Rally Team,� said Carlsson. �I am sure that the Citroen Xsara WRC is the best rally car in the world and will be perfect also for me to support the campaign �World Rally against Drunk Driving�. I've known Manfred for a very long time and am looking forward to working with him. I think it will be the perfect mixture to be successful. I can hardly wait to be behind the steering wheel once again.�

Kronos-Racing has taken part in the FIA World Rally Championship with World Rally Cars since 2004 and took the first podium place with second-placed Manfred Stohl in Cyprus in 2005. This season they celebrated eight victories with Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena and the World Championship driver title. Kronos Racing took second place in the manufacturer ranking.

Team Manager Marc van Dalen was elected �Team Principal of the Year' at the �Professional Motorsport Expo in K�ln'. Marc van Dalen: �Following a fantastic season culminating in the WRC title by Sebastien and Daniel it is a great joy for me to work with OMV and Manfred Stohl once again. We already had a very successful year together in 2005. I am convinced that all of us, Citroen, OMV, Kronos Racing, Manfred and Daniel will be good for several surprises. We are highly motivated.�

Last season was the most successful rally year in the career of Manfred Stohl which resulted in four podium places and fourth overall place in the driver WRC ranking. Reason enough for the OMV driver to heartily thank Bozian Racing: �Bozian did a great job throughout the year. It is fantastic when you never drop out due to a technical malfunction during 16 rallies. All I can say is �Thank you'. Bozian was an important part of my success.�

Source: http://www.rallye-info.com/article.asp?sid=0&stid=5821