Tour de Corse : OMV World Rally Team - Preview
The FIA World Rally Championship enters its 14th round. The “Rallye de France – Tour de Corse”, the second genuine run on tarmac this season, will take place from 21st to 23rd of October.
A case for Xavier Pons of the OMV World Rally Team. Especially since the 25-year-old Spaniard feels right at home on the Mediterranean island. WRC points are possible at his sixth assignment with the Citroen Xsara WRC in spite of the high-calibre starter field.
Experience on tarmac an advantage
Xavier Pons of the OMV World Rally Team has gotten familiar with the Citroen Xsara WRC during five rallies. Now it is time for the first WRC points – in Corsica, at that, just one week prior to his home event in Spain.
The 25-year-old Spaniard has fond memories of the Mediterranean island. Last year he won the Production World Rally Championship run and reached twelfth place in the overall rankings. Pons: “I do have a certain advantage on tarmac, of course. But 23 World Rally Cars make up a high-calibre starter field. Therefore a place among the top ten would already be a big success. But we still will try our all to reach WRC points.“ In Germany the OMV driver showed his forte on tarmac when he reached ninth place, being not only the best privateer but also missing only 40 seconds on a WRC point.
Best private team in the WRC
The OMV World Rally Team has often been the centre of attention in 2005. For instance, the Citroen Xsaras employed by Kronos Racing finished as best private team in Monte Carlo, New Zealand, Cyprus, Argentina, Germany and Wales. “We`ve worked very hard this year to reach this position. And chances are good that we will also be the best private team at the three remaining rallies,” is Kronos Racing Team Manager Marc van Dalen convinced.
342 special stage kilometres on only 12 special stages
The Rallye de France – Tour de Corse will commence on Friday (21st of October) in Ajaccio at 08.30 (local time). 12 special stages with a length of 341,68 kilometres are scheduled until Sunday (23rd of October). The overall distance measures exactly 1.023,82 kilometres. The finishing line will be crossed on Sunday at 13.50 (local time) in Ajaccio.
This is Corsica
Area: 8.680 sq km; Population: 260.000 inhabitants; Population density: 30 people per sq km; Capital: Ajaccio (53.000 inhabitants); After 500 years of Italian governance Corsica has now been part of France since 1769. The fourth-biggest Meditteranean island is removed from the French mainland by 180 kilometres. The distance to the nearest island (Sardinia) measures 12 kilometres. Corsica`s length is 183 kilometres and the island measures 83 kilometres at its widest point.


Tags: tour-de-corse, corsica, omv, pons,