It was a beginning to behold. The OMV duo Manfred Stohl and Ilka Minor already feels quite at home in New Zealand. At the shakedown on Thursday – the last chance to tune your set-up – the OMV World Rally Team achieved seventh best time with the Citroen Xsara.
Even his brand-teammates World Champion Sebastien Loeb (Fra) and Francois Duval (Bel) couldn't measure up. Yet the 32-year-old Austrian thinks that these times are of little importance.
The first trial of strength at the Propecia Rally New Zealand took place on Thursday during the shakedown. The four kilometres long test track offered the last chance to adjust the respective set-ups. The OMV World Rally Team completed five rounds on the track with the Xsara WRC.
Stohl achieved the top time with his own chassis set-up on the last round. Nevertheless, the OMV driver explained : "I'm sure it'll be a different cup of tea on Friday. On the one hand, today's track didn't represent the rally. On the other hand, some of the competitors took it rather easy. On Friday we'll see how things really stand."
Tactics remain the same
The Austrian remains doubtful even though he was among the leading group during the shakedown. He doesn't yet feel completely confident with his new car.
Stohl : "It's getting better and better. But sometimes five kinks are a piece of cake and at the sixth the car swerves for no apparent reason. That takes a toll on your self-confidence."
The OMV World Rally Team wants to go full speed right from the beginning, nevertheless – even if the main goal remains to score points.


Tags: omv, shakedown, citroen, xsara, new-zeeland,