Galli for Stobart

Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team has confirmed that Italian driver Gigi Galli will take over the slot previously held by Jari-Matti Latvala and join Henning Solberg and Matthew Wilson for the 2008 FIA World Rally Championship season.

Like his new team-mates, the Italian will compete on all 15-rounds of the series with the latest specification of the Ford Focus RS WRC.

Galli will be nominated permanently to score manufacturers' points while the second scoring driver position will be left open during the year.

The first man to fulfill this position at the first round of the 2008 season, Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo, will be Francois Duval.

The Belgian will be the fourth entrant at the event as he makes his first appearance on board a Focus RS WRC since he left Ford at the end of 2004.

"It's set to be another exciting year for the Stobart team after such a successful season this year. Jari-Matti's promotion to the BP-Ford Abu Dhabi team has left an opportunity for someone to join this very competitive squad and we are happy to announce that it will be Italian driver Gigi Galli. Gigi has a wealth of experience in the WRC and I'm sure will be a great asset for the team," said Team Principal Malcom Wilson. "Matthew and Henning will again be part of the Stobart team after some fantastic performances in the 2007 championship. The battle this year with Subaru came down to the final event in Wales and next year things are again looking strong for the Stobart squad."