Francois Duval has confirmed that he will compete on the Rallye Monte Carlo with the Stobart Ford team.

The Belgian, who did three events with the OMV Kronos Citroen World Rally Team in 2007 and who almost won the Rallye Deutschland back in August, will use the latest spec Ford Focus RS WRC car.

Although the agreement is currently just for one-event, the ex-Citroen and ex-Ford works driver told his personal website that if he does well at the Principality then it is possible he could do further events with the Ford 'B' team.

"This is a true gift that has fallen from the sky – something that is normal at this time of year!" he joked. "I owe this chance mainly to Steven Vergalle, who on a purely private basis, has decided to support me.

"For this occasion, it will be a crew that is 100 per cent Belgian because I will have as my co-driver, Eddy Chevalier, who has already good experience of the world championship.

"Now I wait impatiently for the first tests before the rally, which will be a very new for me because I missed the event last year. I hope this collaboration will continue after that but for that to happen it will be necessary for me to get a good result."

The Stobart Ford team meanwhile is expected to officially confirm its plans for 2008 on Friday.

More to follow then...