The
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team has confirmed that
Francois Duval will re-join the squad for the remaining three tarmac rallies this season, taking in the events in Germany, Spain and France.
Duval, who finished fourth on the season opening Rallye Monte Carlo back in January and who is competing in the IRC this weekend in Portugal, will again be nominated to score manufacturers' points.
The deal, which was semi-confirmed last week by Francois on his personal website, has been made possible thanks to Belgian construction firm Structo who have purchased a brand new Ford Focus RS WRC07 from M-Sport and have offered to support Duval's entry on all three events.
On event the Focus will be serviced by both M-Sport technicians and technicians from R-Tec Motorsport. R-Tec are no strangers to World Rally Cars, with firm experience of the Focus WRC, guiding Pieter Tsjoen to victory in the 2006 Belgian Rally Championship.
Duval is yet to name a co-driver for the three events with his partner from Monte-Carlo, Eddy Chevaillier, unable to navigate the 27-year-old due to commitments with Group N driver Peter van Merksteijn Jr.
M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson meanwhile believes that Duval could now play a key role in helping the Stobart team finish third in the manufacturers' championship.
"It's a great boost for the Stobart team to have François confirmed for these three events, especially with his wealth of experience on tarmac," Malcolm noted.
"The team put in a strong challenge for third place in the Manufacturers' Championship throughout 2007 and now with François scoring on these tarmac events it could again become a close race by the end of the year."
