Manfred Stohl has been confirmed on the entry for the inaugural Rally of Nations event, being run to cover Mexico's absence from this year's World Rally Championship calendar.

Although still running as Corona Rally Mexico, the 2009 event - due to be staged over the weekend of 9-12 July - will incorporate a separate competition where each country's nominated team of two will be awarded both driver and team points according to their stage position, with two titles up for grabs at the end of the event.

Stohl will be teamed with fellow Austrian and reigning Production Car World Rally champion, Andreas Aigner.

Both drivers have expressed their enthusiasm about competing in Mexico and their desire to win the coveted title.

"Mexico was a great opener to a fantastic 2006 for me, as I made the third place in a WRC car with a private team," reflected Stohl, who not so long ago was a regular in the World Rally Championship.

"The Corona Rally Mexico is a great event, very well organised and with an excellent crew. It will be an excellent competition. I'm really looking forward to going there."

Aigner meanwhile has already raced in Mexico too - back in 2007, and although he only finished in 24th place then, and eleventh in the PWRC, he is also confident and excited about the event.

"I feel very good in Mexico," he continued. "The atmosphere is incredible and the people are wonderful. They have a spectacular start ceremony."

The Austrian team will compete behind the wheel of a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX and are expected to arrive in Mexico in early July.