Swedish Rally: OMV Kronos final summary

OMV Kronos Citroen World Rally Team successful in Sweden

The OMV Kronos Citroen World Rally Team is very satisfied with the result of the "Uddeholm Swedish Rally". Fifth place by Daniel Carlsson/Denis Giraudet and seventh place by Manfred Stohl/Ilka Minor add up to seven points in the manufacture ranking of the FIA World Rally Championship. Both drivers also regarded this rally as perfect preparation for the WRC-run in Norway which will commence already next Thursday and is new on the agenda.

Carlsson is satisfied and relieved
Daniel Carlsson was under enormous pressure at the Sweden Rally. The local hero had been built up as a national hero by the public. Numerous reports that filled pages in the newspapers besides hardly any sports TV-coverage without a Carlsson-interview. Following his podium place last year one also wanted to see him among the top three this year. A difficult task, as the 30-year-old OMV driver was well aware. Carlsson: "We were only able to do barely 100 kilometres of testing prior to the rally. The Citroen Xsara WRC is a completely new car to us. That is why we lost a lot of time on the first day before finding the right rhythm. So now I am very satisfied with and also relieved by fifth place. And I am convinced that we will be able to do even better next week in Norway."

Mixed feelings for Stohl
Foremost, OMV Kronos Citroen World Rally Teammate Manfred Stohl is mainly happy about seventh place and two points won. He nevertheless also knows that there will be a lot of work ahead for him with the Xsara. Stohl: "All components still do not fit. We have to get as competitive as last year in order to be able to fight for podium places. Which means, for instance, the brakes but also the right choice of tyres. Still, to score two points as non-Scandinavian and non-Loeb is a great thing. I hope that we will be able to repeat this in Norway since this rally will be under the same sign, as far as the favourites are concerned."

Van Dalen praises teamwork
Marc van Dalen, Team Principal of the OMV Kronos Citroen World Rally Team, was most impressed by the teamwork at the Sweden Rally. Van Dalen: "We've won seven points in the manufacture ranking and currently lie only one point behind the works team of Subaru. Daniel and Manfred performed a tactically faultless rally and used their options perfectly. Now we will have to tap our full potential."

Grönholm wins for the fifth time in Sweden
Ford works driver Marcus Grönholm clearly was the dominator of the Uddeholm Swedish Rally 2007. Following 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2006 the Finn was victorious for the fifth time already. The only one to top that was Stig Blomqvist during the period from 1971 to 1984. Grönholm outdistanced World Champion Sebastien Loeb (Citroen C4 WRC) by 53,8 seconds, thereby securing his 26th career-victory by which he catches up with Carlos Sainz. Third man on the podium was Ford works teammate Mikko Hirvonen, who was able to leave Henning Solberg (Nor/Ford Focus WRC) in his wake following an exciting duel.

Credit: kronos