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The OMV Team Manfred Stohl/Ilka Minor had to retire early at the “Rallye RACC Catalunya”, the eleventh run to the FIA World Rally Championship. Four kilometres into the third special stage the Citroen Xsara WRC started to slip on the loose gravel – followed by a rollover five metres down an embankment which spelt retirement for this WRC-run. Fortunately, driver and co-driver remained unhurt. The second crew of the OMV Kronos Citroen World Rally Team proved to be luckier. Following best-time on SS 3, Belgian Francois Duval currently lies in fifth place and is on the hunt to catch up with Mikko Hirvonen (Fin/Ford Focus WRC) in front of him.

Following the first two special stages and about 50 kilometres OMV driver Manfred Stohl had been very satisfied. He had a good feeling concerning the Citroen Xsara WRC and was within scoring range in eighth overall place. But then fate hit and early retirement was the result.
“We started to slip towards the embankment in a left turn – and unfortunately the embankment was five metres steep. Currently luck really isn’t my lady. I am especially sorry because the Kronos Team really did a great job “, said Stohl.
Other teams were equally unfortunate at this very spot on SS 3. Six cars overall dropped out in this turn.
Due to the damage done to the car a restart within SupeRally won’t be possible for the OMV Team Stohl/Minor.

Fourth place in sight
The second crew of the OMV Kronos Citroen World Rally Team proves to be luckier so far. Francois Duval/Patrik Pivot (Bel/Fra) already made up six places and currently lie in promising fifth intermediate place following their best-time on special stage three. The hunt for Finn Mikko Hirvonen (Ford Focus WRC) in front of them is on.

This entry was posted on Friday, October 5th, 2007 at 5:33 pm and is filed under Citroën, Press release, World Rally Championship. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.