by Rob Wilkins
Xavier Pons will get his first go in a Subaru Impreza WRC2007 this week, as he begins his preparations for the Rally Finland and the Rallye Deutschland, his first two outings with the Banbury-based outfit.
Pons concluded a one and a half year deal with the Subaru World Rally Team back in May and now the Spaniard is eager to get back in action full-time following three appearances in a privately entered Mitsubishi Lancer WRC05 earlier this year.
“It was some time ago that I started to have conversations with Subaru and it wasn't until recently [May] that we finally came to an agreement. I am a young driver and I want to show my talent with them and show that I can be a fast driver in the future,” he told
Crash.net. “I am now starting to get to know the team and during July I will do two days of testing - one in Finland and one in Germany.
“At the end of July I will also do a bit more running and before the first rally I will do another three-day test. That will be important to get to know the car.”
Asked about his targets for Finland and the second half of the year, he added that he wants to try and get quicker and quicker as the year goes on.
“For Finland, I want to do as many kilometres as possible and get up to speed as much as I can,” he explained.
“For the rest of the season, rally-by-rally, I want to try and get as high as possible in the overall classification. Obviously it would be nice if I can get a podium before the finish of the season.”
As for if he can ultimately win with
Subaru, Xevi said only time will tell: “I hope I can - but I haven't tested with the car yet and I don't know what level the car is at. I know the team have been working a lot and the new car will be really good, for sure,” he summed-up.
