Xavier Pons enjoyed a good start to his new life with the Subaru World Rally Team, when he finished in the points on the Rally Finland on Sunday, his debut event with the Banbury-based outfit.
Finland was Xevi's first event with the Impreza WRC, after he signed a one and a half year deal with the outfit back in May.
Despite never having driven the Impreza WRC2007 competitively before though, Pons enjoyed a strong weekend and increased his pace more and more as the event went on, culminating with a fourth best time on the final stage, the 7.54 kilometre-run through Ruunimaki.
Indeed in total he set 17 top ten stages times from a possible 23.
“It feels great to have completed my first rally with the Subaru World Rally Team, and I am very happy. I have a good working relationship with Xavier Amigo [my co-driver] which is getting stronger the more we drive the car, and I am fitting in to the team well,” he noted.
“Sixth place is very encouraging, and with the kilometres we have covered in the last three legs here I am feeling confident for Germany.
“Apart from SS8 when we ran slightly off the road and damaged the spoiler, it has been a good weekend for me with no real problems.”
Subaru's managing director, Richard Taylor meanwhile was pleased with the performance of his ‘new' signing: “Xevi should be encouraged by what he has achieved. Before this rally he had tested the car on gravel for only two days, so sixth overall is a very good result and a strong indication of his potential,” he added.
