Tour de Corse : OMV World Rally Team
Xavier Pons lies in excellent eighth place after day two of the “Rallye de France – Tour de Corse” – and therefore within scoring range.
The 25-year-old Spaniard of the OMV World Rally Team is only missing 2,7 seconds on 7th place (Bengue/Skoda). After a spin in the morning, the afternoon went better and better for Pons and Co-driver Carlos del Barrio. Goal for tomorrow`s four special stages: securing eighth place and overtaking Bengue, if possible.

Corsica is worth a trip
The French Mediterranean island is a popular destination – especially for Xavier Pons. And the OMV driver is feeling more and more at home by the kilometre at the Rallye de France – Tour de Corse. After a spin in the morning the Spaniard really put his foot down in the afternoon. His reward: he climbed up from tenth to eighth place and therefore already lies within WRC points range after eight special stages.

This had been the professed goal of the OMV World Rally Team driver in the Citroen Xsara WRC. Pons: “I`m really feeling at home here. And everything seems to go my way. The car`s performance is sensational, the tarmac in Corsica suits me perfectly – and, most importantly, it hasn`t rained. But we mustn`t get over-enthusiastic for there are still four tough special stages to be completed tomorrow.”

Seventh place within reach
Still, neither Xavier Pons nor the Kronos Racing Team can yet rest on their laurels. They have to stay focussed on tomorrow`s four above average length special stages. The more so since the OMV driver`s plans go further than to just secure eighth place. Pons: “Bengue in seventh place is surely within reach and I`ll try my best to overtake him. But this will be a tough fight where the slightest fault will be punished.”


Tags: omv, xavier-pons, manfred-stohl, citroen, xsara,