08 May 12

Oliveira
progress
delights Stohl

Team boss Manfred Stohl says he's delighted with the progress Daniel Oliveira has made since returning to his Austria-based squad for this year's FIA World Rally Championship powered by Nokia.

Brazilian Oliveira, 26, began his international career with ex-driver Stohl’s eponymous team in 2010 but switched to a rival operation for last year’s campaign.

His Stohl Racing comeback started on Rally Sweden in February in a Group N-specification Subaru Impreza before he stepped up to a Ford Fiesta RS WRC for Vodafone Rally de Portugal in late March.

“Daniel is working very hard this season,” said Stohl. “He is getting more concentrated and is thinking more about the tactics. In the testing he has done and on some of the small events, he has been a different person [to 2011] and I am just trying to get that different person to be here all of the time.”

After finishing 12th overall in Portugal, Oliveira retired in Argentina following an oil leak caused by a broken driveshaft. Nevertheless, Stohl was happy with how Oliveira, who competes under the Brazil World Rally Team banner, performed on the long-distance event.

“The rallies so far have not been easy but Daniel has been very impressive and there is light at the end of the tunnel as you say,” said Stohl.