The team have had some notable results this season and as well as easily being the top M2 squad, they have also managed two podiums, the most recent in Turkey two weeks ago, when Henning stood on a WRC rostrum for the very first time. Along with Stohl’s eighth place the outfit also closed the gap to
Subaru in the manufacturers’, the margin going down from 20 points to 16.
“We have already proven this year that we, as a private team, can indeed compete with one or other of the works teams,” said team boss, Jackie Bozian. “Now we are seriously challenging Subaru too for third in the constructors’.”
Henning meanwhile is on cloud-nine after his third place finish in Turkey and the Norwegian, who is the older brother of Petter, is hopeful he can get another top five finish, even if this will be his debut outing on the Perth event.
“At the moment I’m in top form and have the perfect feeling with my Peugeot 307 WRC. We are in Australia for the first time though and therefore we somewhat lack experience. But I am nevertheless sure that we can be fast on these unknown roads, thanks to our self-confidence. We can finish in the top five anytime,” he predicted.
Stohl is also upbeat having scored points on nine occasions thus far this season. Furthermore while he wasn’t overly pleased with his form in the wet in Turkey, rain shouldn’t be an issue in Australia and his podium ‘down under’ in 2005 also bodes well: “We have learned in Japan and Turkey that we do have problems under wet conditions. But it should be dry in Australia – which is in our favour,” he added. “Additionally, this rally suits me and is one of my absolute favourite runs. One mustn’t be deceived even if only ten World Rally Cars compete though. Eight of these do stand a chance to reach the top three. It is going to be a fight for each and every second.”
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally team:
[
Matthew Wilson, car #9 and
Luis Perez Companc, car #10]
Matthew Wilson will revert to the 2006 specification Ford Focus WRC car this weekend. The Stobart VK-backed driver is extremely excited about the prospect of using the ‘new’ Focus again, especially as he only got his hands on it for the first time in Japan back at the beginning of September and then had to make do with the older model in Cyprus and Turkey.
