Asked how pre-season testing has gone, the Norwegian added that he has been reasonably pleased, although he reiterated that punctures will be a big worry, especially on round one.
"Testing has been ok so far. I feel comfortable on the new tyres - tyre testing has gone well and I feel I have learned them very well," he told the team’s official website,
www.swrt.com. "You need a little different driving style now to get the most from them, but I am happy going into Monte and Sweden.
"Thinking about punctures will be very, very important though. You can’t drive like before – one puncture and you’re finished. I think people will drive more cautiously and definitely not cut corners as much."
Subaru team boss David Richards meanwhile believes that it is possible one of his drivers could finish on the podium. Although the Banbury-based outfit only managed that feat twice last year, Richards reckons that the tricky four-day event could produce a surprise result and allow Petter or
Chris Atkinson to get onto the rostrum.
Indeed the weather could be especially beneficial for the Prodrive-run concern, which will have to persevere with the Impreza WRC2007 for now, until new car makes it debut at a yet to be announced event later on in the season.
"Monte Carlo Rally has often turned out to be a lottery, where the weather has thrown up some opportunistic and historic victories," he noted, "and if we can snatch those chances, who knows? I wouldn’t be at all surprised if either of our drivers climbed the podium. It’s one of those events where anything can happen."
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally team:
[
Gigi Galli, car #7 and
Francois Duval, car #8 [and
Henning Solberg, car #14 and
Matthew Wilson, car #16 – both not nominated for manufacturers' points]]
New crews and new colours.
Stobart Ford's Gigi Galli will be out to blow off the cobwebs on the Rallye Monte Carlo as he begins what will remarkably be his first full-season in the WRC.
