Last updated 19:44, Thursday, 31 July 2008

STOBART VK M-Sport Ford, currently fourth in the manufacturers’ championship, are looking for some solid results from the Rally Finland.

Seventh in the drivers’ championship and leading Stobart crew, Gigi Galli/Giovanni Bernacchini will be searching for a top-five result in Finland especially with their commitment on high-speed events.

Henning Solberg/Cato Menkerud will be the second nominated points scoring crew for the team and they currently lie eighth in their respective driver and co-driver championships.

Running in the third Stobart-entered Ford Focus RS WRC07 are British pair Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin as they take on the event together for the first time.

Contesting three Finnish national rallies back in 2005 gives them some extended knowledge of the fast-flowing nature of the Scandinavian stages.

For Galli this will be his eighth attempt at Rally Finland. He said: “We have done this rally many times before and I know it well but it is a bit of a shame that the famous Ouninpohja stage has been cancelled this year because it is one of my all-time favourites.”

Solberg is the most experienced of all three Stobart drivers with eight Rally Finland event starts under his belt.

He will be looking for a solid display on a rally, close to his native Norway, which attracts numerous Norwegian spectators.

Solberg said: “I have done this event many times before and it is one I love because of the fast speeds and massive jumps.

“For the last two years we have finished in the top five so hopefully we can achieve this again and maybe even finish on the podium.”

Wilson said: “I’m really looking forward to Finland and getting back in the car after such a big break over the summer.

“I've had a bit of time in the car with a few promotional drives like Goodwood and some drive days which have been really beneficial while there have been no rallies.

“Scott and I have spent some time recently working on our notes and I think, with even more new rally routes this year, we will need to be on the ball with our pacenotes; they are such an important aspect of a fast event like this.”

Stobart VK M-Sport Ford team principal Malcolm Wilson said: “I’m looking forward to the second half of the season with the Stobart team.

“I believe in the second half of the season the Stobart team can achieve its best results to date.

“Both Gigi and Henning have good experience in Finland which is crucial for achieving good results.

“The team still has a chance for a podium spot in the manufacturers’ championship.”