30
April
2006
|
10:00
Europe/Amsterdam

Rally of Argentina: Pirelli on the podium with Petter Solberg and Gigi Galli

Cordoba, 30 April 2006 - Two cars on Pirelli P Zeros on the podium: it is with this truly excellent result that Pirelli Competizioni returns from the Rally of Argentina, sixth round in the World Rally Championship. The Subaru Impreza of Petter Solberg finished the South American rally in second place, after having battled right from the start with the winning Citroen of Sbastien Loeb. Small technical problems and a minor accident partly diminished the sensitivity of the steering and stopped the talented Norwegian driver from fighting to the end for the overall win. Third place on the podium went to Gigi Galli in the Peugeot 307 WRC prepared by Jacky Bozian and competing in its assertive Pirelli livery. The Italian had been up with the leaders of the Argentinean rally from the outset, making sure he protected a result that is his best performance of all in more than 50 world championship rallies, in which he had competed in Group N. However, Petter Solberg said he was satisfied with his performance in the Rally of Argentina, add-ing, "It gives us hope for the future. I am confident, with Sardinia and Greece on the horizon, for both of which we will prepare by undertaking a series of tests. Obviously, having missed out on the win is disappointing, but this performance is useful for the morale of Subaru and Pirelli. The new P Zeros we used here did well and I hope the top place on the podium is not too far away." Gigi Galli is in his seventh heaven about the result to which he came close in Sweden three months ago and that re-launches his chances three weeks before the Sardinian rally. He said, "To say that I am happy is not enough, because having risked being without a car, and then climb onto the po-dium of a world championship rally is a dream come true. I would like to thank Pirelli for the help and opportunity they have given me, as well as for the advice of the Italian company's technicians and the quality of the latest P Zeros for the loose, which were fundamental to our success. I slowed my pace on the third leg, because I did not want to take risks, and anyway the situation in the classification was such that I could administer my advantage with relative safety". Commented Mario Isola, Rally Manager of Pirelli Competizioni, "I am pleased with this return to the podium of the two cars on Pirelli, thanks to the outstanding performance of Solberg with a Subaru Impreza in great form once again, and to the excellent commitment of Galli and Bernac-chini, who confirmed the correctness of the decision to entrust them with the Peugeot 307 of Bozian. Now, all our concentration is oriented to the test sessions planned before Sardinia, a rally of manifest importance to Pirelli". Final results of Argentina's Rally, race 06, WRC Championship 2006: 1. Loeb (Citron) 4h06'51''3 2. Solberg (Subaru) +44''6 3. Galli (Peugeot) +3'24''3 6. Atkinson (Subaru) +5'43''8 12.Villagra (Mitsubishi) +22'49''8, 1. Gr.N For more information and pictures on Pirelli's motorsport activities visit: www.pirellicompetizioni.com