Today in Finland Spaniard Xavier Pons successfully completed the pre-rally shakedown of his WRC2007 car, marking the first time he has driven his new machine during a rally event, having joined the Subaru World Rally Team during the season break after the Acropolis Rally.
Alongside co-driver and fellow Spaniard Xavier Amigo, the pair have completed three days of testing on both gravel and tarmac stages prior to this week’s Rally Finland, and following this morning’s progress, are feeling confident of a solid debut when the event starts on Thursday evening.
“We have tested here before using the test car, but this is the first time in my own car and so it is a little different” said Pons. “The setup we have is slightly different, but also the shakedown stage is getting worn and rutted very quickly which makes it hard. I like Finland as a rally but it is very tricky as it is so fast and narrow, and you have to have maximum confidence to attack right through the stage.
Photo: SWRT
“I am looking forward to the start of the first stage tonight and hope that we can use it to continue development and have a good rally. I have really settled in with the Subaru World Rally Team already, and for sure am looking forward to a great rest of the year. I am becoming more used to the car with every run, and this will find us speed as the season progresses”.
“Xavier completed five runs of the shakedown stage this morning, and in each demonstrated his consistency with the car” said Paul Howarth, SWRT team manager. “We are currently working on a programme to familiarise him with the car, and to help him feel more comfortable with it at each rally. Confidence is especially important here this week in Finland.
“He is providing good feedback on the car and its handling and we are very happy with his progress since joining the team only two months ago. Aiming for a top eight finish from Finland, we believe that he will get better and better the more time he spends in the car”.
Joining SWRT for the second half of the 2007 WRC season, Pons has a strong background in rallying, having competed in the WRC since 2003, initially in Group N and since 2005 in WRC cars. He won two rounds of the Production WRC in 2004 and has numerous victories in the Spanish gravel championship, from which his rally career started.
