Rally Sweden 2006: OMV Peugeot Norway - Preview
Two weeks after the premiere in Monte Carlo the OMV Peugeot Norway World Rally Team (Peugeot 307 WRC) is facing its new assignment. Once again Manfred Stohl/Ilka Minor (Aut) and Henning Solberg/Cato Menkerud (Nor) want to be up front with the best at the `Uddeholm Swedish Rally`, the second run to the FIA World Rally Championship 2006.

Successful testing in Norway
The result of the OMV Team Stohl/Minor in Monte Carlo (4th overall place) has raised expectations of the OMV Peugeot Norway World Rally Team. Four days prior to the second WRC-run of the season tests on snow surface were completed in Norway. Stohl was enthused: “The organisation of the tests was impeccable. Bozian Racing is doing a thoroughly perfect job and the people in charge in Norway were incredibly friendly and cooperative."

Thus Stohl and Solberg were able to complete 150 kilometres on ice and snow on Sunday on a four-kilometres-long test course, thereby emulating perfectly `Swedish` conditions. Naturally, the main focus was on the tyres: only 135 mm wide and equipped with 330 spikes of a length between 5,5 and 7 mm. Stohl: “The tyres will decide this rally for although everybody will use the same kind of tyres there are huge differences as far as the durability of the spikes is concerned."


Stohl among top drivers
Since the starting order in Sweden will be according to the driver`s WRC-ranking, OMV driver Manfred Stohl will start in third position. Which means that the Austrian is in good company – just behind Marcus Grönholm (Fin/Ford) and Sebastien Loeb (Fra/Citroen). Stohl: "This is no disadvantage given the icy temperatures. Still, my goal for Sweden remains a top-eight place, for you have a lot of local heroes competing here who know each metre and have trained on this surface since they started rallying. But my feeling for the car is getting better by the day."

Henning Solberg has high expectations
Sweden is almost a home rally for Norwegian Henning Solberg. It is the eighth time off the starting ramp in Karlstad for the OMV driver. Therefore he has high expectations on his second outing with the OMV Peugeot Norway WRT.

Solberg: "Monte Carlo was completely unchartered territory and we made the wrong choice of tyres several times. That shouldn`t happen to us in Sweden. I know this rally inside out and want to be up front with the best. The tests have shown that I`ve got the right feeling for the car."

Top in manufacturer`s ranking
After the season`s first run in Monte Carlo the OMV Peugeot Norway World Rally Team lies in third place in the manufacturer`s ranking with six points, in front of Subaru (5 points), Red Bull Skoda (3 points) and Stobart-VK-M-Sport. Top placed are the BP Ford World Rally Team (14 points) and the Kronos Total Citroen Team (11 points) in second place. The goal is to consolidate the third place of the OMV Team. "This year we have the chance to score points at twelve rallies. Therefore it is important that we take this opportunity. I`m sure that both Manfred Stohl and Henning Solberg are able to score points", says optimistic Team Manager Jacky Bozian.

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