18
February
2007
|
10:00
Europe/Amsterdam

Galli sixth on the Rally Norway in his PZero-equipped Citroen Xsara WRC

GALLI SIXTH ON THE RALLY NORWAY
IN HIS PZERO-EQUIPPED CITROËN XSARA WRC

An impact with a snowbank and an overshoot at a junction stop Gigi's fightback.
The Italian is already thinking about his next rally in Portugal next March.


Hamar (N), 18 February '07- The PZero-equipped Citroën Xsara WRC of Gigi Galli and Giovanni Bernacchini has finished in sixth place on the Rally Norway, round three of the World Rally Championship. It is a generally positive result for Gigi, but he would have nonetheless finished a lot higher up the order had he not made a few unfortunate mistakes over the three days of the event. Gigi, driving a Citroën Xsara-Pirelli, lost a bit more time today after hitting a snowbank and overshooting a junction. Despite this setback, the Italian managed to improve his overall position, finishing Norway's round of the World Championship in sixth overall and scoring three precious driver points.

Galli is not entirely satisfied with his result though at the end of the rally in Hamar. "I never really found the right rhythm again after losing time on Friday, also because the Citroën Xsara WRC requires a very neat and clean driving style that I have not been able to master consistently yet," explained the Italian. "It's also true that in Norway, just like Sweden, the studded PZero tyres supplied to me by Pirelli Competizioni were a big helping hand, allowing me to attack where others were having to lift off. Now the biggest priority is to prepare myself for my next World Championship event, which will be on the fast gravel of Portugal."

Terenzio Testoni, the senior tyre engineer for Pirelli Competizioni on the World Rally Championship, said: "I was pleased with the performance of the latest evolution of the studded PZero tyre: both the version with longer 8mm studs as well as the tried and trusted 7mm studded tyre. Now that the World Championship's two snow rallies are behind us, we have time to prepare our Pirelli gravel tyres for the next round in Portugal at the end of March and also for Argentina in May, where Gigi took a fantastic third place overall in 2006. In my opinion, he has got all the necessary equipment to do the same again."

As was exactly the case in Sweden a week ago, the studded PZero tyre won the Group N category in Norway. Oscar Svedlund (Subaru Impreza STi) triumphed in Karlstad, while Patrik Flodin took the honours in Hamar this weekend with a similar car.


For more information and pictures on Pirelli's motorsport activities visit: www.pirellicompetizioni.com

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