Stohl: Lady luck has deserted me!

OMV Kronos Citroen's Manfred Stohl has crashed out of the Rally Catalunya Costa Daurada, the twelfth round in the 2007 FIA World Rally Championship.

Stohl, who had finished the morning's loop in eighth place overall and provisionally on target to take the final drivers' point, went off the road in the second run through the 25.43 kilometre Querol test, SS3. The incident occurred 4 kilometres into the stage when he slid off on some loose gravel and rolled 5 metres down an embankment.

Manfred Stohl (AUT), OMV Kronos Citroen Xsara WRC. Rally Catalunya Costa Daurada, Spain. 5-7th Oct 2
Manfred Stohl (AUT), OMV Kronos Citroen Xsara WRC. Rally Catalunya Costa…
© PHOTO 4

OMV Kronos Citroen's Manfred Stohl has crashed out of the Rally Catalunya Costa Daurada, the twelfth round in the 2007 FIA World Rally Championship.

Stohl, who had finished the morning's loop in eighth place overall and provisionally on target to take the final drivers' point, went off the road in the second run through the 25.43 kilometre Querol test, SS3. The incident occurred 4 kilometres into the stage when he slid off on some loose gravel and rolled 5 metres down an embankment.

Although Stohl and his co-driver, Ilka Minor escaped unhurt, the car was quite badly damaged and as such he will not be able to re-start on Saturday under the SupeRally format.

"We started to slip towards the embankment in a left turn - and unfortunately the embankment was five metres steep," said Manfred. "Currently luck really isn't my lady. I am especially sorry because the Kronos team really did a great job for this event."

Stohl wasn't the only driver though to have trouble in SS3 and six other cars also had problems at exactly the same spot.

Stohl is the 'second' works retirement, joining Munchi's Ford WRT leader, Luis-Perez Companc, who went off the road in SS2, on the sidelines - although Companc may be able to re-start on Saturday. Skoda privateer, Jan Kopecky has also retired from leg 1.

Read More