ITC: Interwetten Barum Rally preview

Franz Wittmann/ Klaus Wicha, coming directly from the WRC rally in Germany to Zlin (Czech Republic), will compete in the Barum Rally, the most high-class run of this season with no less than 28 S2000 cars competing

Preparation for the Peugeot 207 S2000 and the Interwetten Racing drivers proved to be ideal by 17th place in Germany - meaning that many valuable testing kilometres were completed

Franz Wittmann's goal at the Barum Rally is to reach a place within the top 15

After things hadn't worked out to plan following three retirements within the IRC series in Monte Carlo, Grand Canary and Sardinia, Franz Wittmann/ Klaus Wicha have especially prepared for the Barum Rally.

The Interwetten Racing Duo had already tested extensively with the Peugeot 207 S2000 prior to the WRC rally in Germany with the team of ROMO Motorsport of Ronald Leschhorn and entered the run in the Trier area as a true preparation for the Zlin. Therefore the result there was of secondary importance. The fact that it turned out to be an overall 17th place at this tough WRC run was all the more positive.

Franz Wittmann on this: "It was a great preparation for us and I was able to learn a lot. But now our complete focus is on the IRC run in Zlin. The competition is overwhelming and I will have to fight from the word `go'. The Skoda and Ford works drivers have already been very fast in Germany which is why we will have to get our bearings on the competing private drivers in the beginning. Our goal ist to finish among the top 15."

Franz Wittmann/ Klaus Wicha will already arrive at the Barum Rally on Tuesday. Things will prove to be a bit more difficult for the team of ROMO Motorsport under the direction of Ronnie Leschhorn.

"They drove back from Trier to their headquarters and completely disassembled the Peugeot 207 S2000. Thereby all parts that could possibly have been damaged in Germany are being scrutinously examined. Only after that the departure for Zlin will take place. At least I returned the car without outward damage to our team. This might help to save some time, at least", says the Interwetten Racing driver.

This year's Barum Rally, celebrating its 40th year, is the most high- class IRC run of the year. Counting Franz Wittmann/ Klaus Wicha and their Peugeot 207 S 2000 in, no less than 28 S2000 cars have entered the competition. All in all no less than 131 teams from 26 nations will enter the anniversary rally.

Last year the Interwetten Racing driver Franz Wittmann offered his best season performance at the Barum Rally despite "only" reaching 15th overall place and therefore not scoring IRC-points.

On the first day, on the town circuit of Zlin, an electronic defect had him fall back to 42nd place. The race to catch up on leg two took him up to 14th place. Then a tyre damage cost him four minutes, having him drop back to place 32 overall, but at the end of the day the Austrian had worked his way back up to 26th place again. And in spite of problems with the differential at his Mitsubishi on the third day he managed to move up and up until finishing in 15th place overall in the end.

-source: interwetten-racing.com