"It will be harder for me to compete at a good level having only done five competitive stages in 2004 but I don’t care, it will be good to be there and get used to the new tyre. I have never used the new Pirelli tyre so this gives us the chance to discover the car and the tyre on gravel for the first time.
"Like every rally I set a pace on the first stage, see where we are and then develop the speed and feeling from there."
Matthew Wilson meanwhile will be in the #8 car and nominated to score manufacturers' points for the
Stobart team for the first time since the Wales Rally GB in 2006.
The 21-year-old has yet to open his account this season, although he came very close in Sweden and was running in fifth place until throttle issues forced him into retirement in the penultimate stage.
"It’s great to be nominated to score points for the Stobart team again. There will be a bit more pressure on me now but it’s a real boost to be able to help the team after such a great start to the year," said Matt.
"Mexico has always been quite a good rally for me and it’s where I scored my first drivers’ points in last year’s championship. It’s a bit of a shame not going into the event with any points from Sweden but we will look to get some here.
"The altitude makes it tough on the cars and the body so Scott [Martin - my co-driver] and I will be doing some altitude training once we get out there to try and acclimatise a bit better.
"It will be the first time for me on the new Pirelli gravel tyre but so far we have had no problems on the tarmac and studded versions so I’m confident the feeling will be good in Mexico."
Munchi's Ford WRT:
[
Federico Villagra, car #9 and
Henning Solberg, car #10]
First event of year, Henning to 'guest' in #10 car.
The Munchi’s team will make its first appearance in the 2008 WRC this weekend on the Rally Mexico.
Federico Villarga will take over as 'team leader' this season and take in all ten events that the M-Sport-run outfit plans to do, as
Luis Perez Companc will only contest three rounds due to his business and other motorsport commitments.
