Rally Monte-Carlo 2006: Eddie Stobart Motorsport - PreviewEddie Stobart Motorsport embarks on a new era in two weeks time when the Rally Team competes on the first round of this year`s FIA World Rally Championship in southern France, the Monte Carlo Rally.
Arguably the most evocative and glamorous names in the world of motor sport, both Monaco and the Monte Carlo Rally, are known throughout the world, even by those whose sporting interests lie elsewhere. But competitors in this first round of the world series will have no time for celebrity spotting, this is one of the toughest tests in the calendar. Run over the twisting mountain roads of the French Alps, competitors will be faced with everything from sun-dried tarmac to ice-slicked roads as they climb high amongst the peaks. Unpredictable, fast and challenging, the only glitter here will come from the frost encrusted foliage.
Spearheading the team will be Matthew Wilson and Michael Orr driving an M-Sport prepared Ford Focus WRC04, but in addition to the season long programme, Eddie Stobart Motorsport and partners, the energy drink company Vodka Kick, have agreed to support a second car entry in the world series.
Following negotiations with M-Sport, who will campaign the official two-car Ford Motor Company works team with star drivers Marcus Gronholm and Mikko Hirvonen, Stobart Motorsport has been entrusted with the management of the official two-car Ford Number 2 team.
Throughout the 16 round series, Wilson and Orr will be joined by a variety of successful young drivers who are being offered a chance to compete at the sport`s highest level.
Joining the Brits on this first round will be multiple Belgian Rally Champions Pieter Tsjoen and Eddy Chevalier in the second Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Focus.
Said Andrew Tinkler, Chairman of Eddie Stobart Ltd: “Our business in the UK has benefited from our involvement in British rallying over the past two years and this foray on to the world stage marks our next logical step. The Eddie Stobart name and business is already well known in Europe and we want to build on that through this programme, but as the world grows smaller and the whole business of transport logistics takes on a world perspective then this latest venture will help us spread the word to a bigger audience and potentially to a bigger client base.”
Managing Director, William Stobart added: “This will be a learning year for the new team, but with Matthew`s talent and Michael`s experience we know they`ll do well and we wish them every success. As a company, we`re also very pleased that Stobart Motorsport has been entrusted with managing the Number 2 team for one of the most professional rally teams in British and World motor sport, the Ford World Rally Team.”
The Monte Carlo Rally gets under way early in the morning of Friday the 20th of January with three groups of stages in the mountains, and finishes on Sunday afternoon the 22nd of January.
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