Catalunya : OMV World Rally Team
A great success for the OMV World Rally Team and Xavier Pons (Citroen Xsara WRC). The 25-year-old Spaniard and co-driver Carlos del Barrio reached a sensational fourth overall place at their home rally, the Movistar Rally RACC Catalunya.
Even a place on the podium had been within reach. Mikko Hirvonen (Fin/Ford Focus WRC) was only able to overtake the OMV driver on the last special stage. In the end a mere 1.2 second was missing for a place on the podium.

Piece de resistance in Spain
Xavier Pons had everything perfectly under control up to the last special stage of the Rally of Spain. On the one hand the local hero was able to put his home advantage into action with fast special stage times. On the other hand he benefited by accidents and retirements of his opponents. Thus the OMV Team Pons/Del Barrio lay in third place after day two – if only 5.7 seconds in front of Hirvonen. Pons lost only 1.1 second on SS 13 and 14. But then misfortune struck on the last special stage and Hirvonen retrieved the podium place by 1.2 second.

All in all, a great feeling
Xavier Pons` engine stalled at the start of the last special stage. Therefore he had already lost eight seconds on Hirvonen by the first intermediate time. He didn`t lose any more time on the remaining 25 kilometres. Pons: “We gave our all and were prepared to go to the limit for a place on the podium. Unluckily it didn`t work out. But we are still very happy with fourth place. It`s a great feeling to reach the best result in your career in front of your own fans in your own country. My thanks also go to Kronos Racing – they have prepared the car perfectly, once again.”

More than just a top place
It was not only Xavier Pons` performance that was impressive. His fourth place was the third top-five result for the OMV World Rally Team after Manfred Stohl`s second place in Cyprus and fifth place in Wales. That Xavier Pons is on the way up is also proven by how close he came to the top drivers. “After almost 360 special stage kilometres he had only lost 2:47,9 minutes on World Champion Loeb. That is just half a second per kilometre. It proves how far Xevi has improved,” Kronos Racing Team Manager Marc van Dalen rejoices.

Next assignment: Australia
Both OMV World Rally Team drivers, Manfred Stohl and Xavier Pons, will be competing at the season`s finale, the Telstra-Rally Australia from 10th to 13th of November 2005.


Tags: catalunya, spain, omv, pons,