Manfred Stohl wins OMV Rally Waldviertel 2007
(10.11.2007 / 20:05:59)
Third triumph for the OMV driver after 2001 and 2002
Stepan Vojtech runner-up and Michal Kosciuszko third
Christoph Leitgeb top in Division II, Jörl takes Diesel title
Organiser thanks OMV and sports-country of Lower Austria
The undisputed victory of Manfred Stohl marked the end of the 27th edition of the OMV Rally Waldviertel. The 35-year-old Viennese in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX reached 13 out of 17 special stage best-times and, following 2001 and 2002, triumphed for the third time at the finale of the Austrian National Rally Championship. Second place went to Stepan Vojtech (CZ/Mitsubishi Evi IX) ahead of the surprise of the rally, Pole Michal Kosciuszko in the Fiat Grande Punto S2000. The difficult weather conditions demanded everything of man and machine but offered a spectacular show for the approximately 50.000 spectators during the three days of the event in the Litschau, Horn and Gars am Kamp areas.
Successful “final rallydays”
The 27th edition of the OMV Rally Waldviertel which this year took place in the Horn, Litschau, Fuglau and Gars am Kamp areas wasn’t favoured by fine weather. On Friday the conditions in the Litschau region were extremely inhospitable – it snowed, rained and squalls with up to 100km/h sweeped across the roads. Things brightened up a little on the final day but were still hardly comfy. Nevertheless, over 50.000 spectators visited the Waldviertel during the three rally days in order to see the “final rallydays”.
For Organisation Manager Helmut Schöpf it marked the last cooperation with main sponsor OMV that will retire from the rally scene following a four-year-commitment: “This decision obviously is a hard blow for me and the two organisers ÖAMTC ZV Baden and MSRR Neulengbach. I nevertheless would like to say thank you for the years spent together. Whether there will be a rally next year naturally depends on economic calculations. Of course, I already have a organisation concept for next year in mind but whether it can be realised only the next months will show. I’d also like to thank the sports-country of Lower Austria, the municipalities and all other sponsors. My special thanks go to the drivers, the teams and to all my operatives who did a fantastic job under the most difficult conditions.”
Gala performance by the WRC-driver
Manfred Stohl’s (CNG Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) natural-gas-premiere was crowned by a superior victory. The 35-year-old Viennese reached 13 out of 17 special stage best-times, among them eleven of twelve on day two, and lay 1:50,7 minutes ahead of Stepan Vojtech (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) in the end. The Czech OMV BIXXOL-driver reached second place at the OMV Rally Waldviertel already for the third time. On the last special stage kilometre Pole Michal Kosciuszko caused a big surprise. The 22-year-old Pole in the Fiat Punto Grande S2000 benefited by technical problems of Beppo Harrach whose right front driveshaft broke on SS 14. Thus Kosciuszko finished on the podium. Harrach, in the second CNG Mitsubishi Lancer, had to be content with fourth place.
Stohl: “This rally is singular and definitely the best event in Austria. I desperately wanted to win here with the CNG Mitsubishi. And it additionally was a good test for the WRC-run in Ireland where conditions will surely be just as slippery.”
Harrach: “We were in second place for a long time and surely would have stood good chances for the podium. But the broken driveshaft undid everything. We were nevertheless able to prove the potential of the CNG Mitsubishi once more.”
Ilka Minor can rejoice over a special trophy. Manfred Stohl’s co-driver celebrated her third OMV Rally Waldviertel-victory after 1999 (with Markus Mitterbauer) and 2002 (with Manfred Stohl). Thus the currently best female co-driver worldwide was permanently awarded the “Ferdinand Hinterleitner-Challenge Cup” (co-driver of Sepp Hader who was killed in a traffic accident in 1990).
A fistful of Austrians from 5 to 7
A strong performance on the second day had Toto Wolff in the group-A-Mitsubishi move up to sixth overall place, a fact that obviously satisfied him: “It is an incredible feeling to be back up again. If we should compete in the Championship next year it surely will be in a S2000.” With a car of this manufacture (VW Polo S2000) Andreas Waldherr conquered fifth place on the last special stage and said: “This rally was a true test and my first gravel-rally at all. In the beginning we orientated ourselves on Kosciuszko but as the rally went on the risk became too great.” Seventh place in the overall ranking brought Willi Stengg (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) up to second place in Division I. The Styrian vice-National Champion: “It was the first gravel-rally for us in ten years. After a first day to be best forgotten we rode full attack on Saturday.” The top-10 were completed by Peter Gavlak (Sk), Herman Gassner (Ger) and Gerwald Grössing (all Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX). The latter: “It was our first gravel-rally and we only really got into it on the second day.”
Sepp Haider (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI) celebrated a much acclaimed comeback. The drifting-king enthused spectators and finished in twelfth overall place. But there will be no return. Haider: “Like always the Waldviertel Rally was both wonderful and f...... awful. It was great to return once but there will be no repetition.”
“Double” for Christoph Leitgeb
In Division II Christoph Leitgeb stayed ahead of Patrick Winter (both Ford Fiesta ST) by mere 1,1 seconds. Thus Leitgeb secured both the Junior National Championship title and the OSK Cup in Division II. “Especially since the situation wasn’t always easy this year I’m all the more happy about these two titles. The second day of the OMV Rally Waldviertel compensated a lot. Everything went perfectly then. And in the end luck was my lady.”
Spectacular surprise in Diesel class
After Günther Jörl (Seat Ibiza 1,9 TDI) had dropped out on SS 2 on Friday he had already written off the Diesel Cup title. But Ing. Michael Böhm (Fiat Punto 199 R3D) presented the Carinthian from the MSC Wolfsberg with an early Christmas gift when he, close to taking the title, slipped off the road on SS 14 and had to retire. Thus Jörl wins the title by a lead of one point. “I am speechless and overjoyed. After yesterday’s accident I wouldn’t have dreamt of this. We are a very small team and do almost everything by ourselves. That’s why we are very proud of this success.” Andreas Patzl (Skoda Fabia RS TDI) took the victory at the OMV Rally Waldviertel by a lead of 17,9 Sekunden over Willi Rabl jun. (VW)
In class H10 Fritz Waldherr (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III) won in front of Jörg Dörre (D/BMW 318iS E30). In class H11 Gerhard Oppenauer (Ford Escort RS) took the laurels ahead of Safari-starter Josef Pointinger (Ford Escort RS). Siegfried Mayr (Volvo 740) decided the Volvo Original Cup in his favour.
Final standings after 17 special stages*
*) Special stage 4 was cancelled
01. Manfred Stohl/Ilka Minor (A) CNG Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 1:48:12,6 hrs.
02. Stepan Vojtech/Michal Ernst (CZ) Mitsubshi Lancer Evo IX +1:50,7 min.
03. Michal Kosciuszko/Maciek Szczepaniak (Pol) Fiat Grande Punto S2000 +2:55,0 min.
04. Beppo Harrach/Andreas Schindlbacher (A) CNG Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI +3:40,1 min.
05. Andreas Waldherr/Richard Jeitler (A) VW Polo S2000 +4:58,0 min.
06. Toto Wolff/Gerald Pöschl (A) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII, Gr.-A +5:11,0 min.
07. Willi Stengg/Jürgen Klinger (A) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +5:32,2 min.
08. Peter Gavlak/Milos Hulka (Sk/CZ) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +5:53,2 min.
09. Hermann Gassner/Karin Tannhäuser (Ger) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +6:14,8 min.
10. Gerwald Grössing/Fred Winklhofer (A) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +6:44,9 min.
11. Claudiu David/Mihaela Beldie (RO) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo +7:22,5 min.
12. Sepp Haider/Manfred Hiemer (A /Ger) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI +7:35,9 min.
SS-best-times: Stohl 13, Harrach, Kosciuszko and Vojtech 1 each.
Most prominent retirements: Erik Korda (SS 1/accident), Andrej Jereb (SS 2/engine), Martin Ertl (SS 2/ accident), Günther Jörl (SS 2/ accident), Michael Kogler (SS 9/technical), Walter Kovar (TC 10/engine), Florian Niegel (SS 12/technical), Jiri Tosovsky (TC 14/technical), Ing. Michael Böhm (SS 14/ accident).
Final standings in the Austrian Rally National Championship 2007
Divsion I: 1. Raimund Baumschlager 60 points, 2. Willi Stengg 50 points, 3. Hermann Gassner 34 points.
Division II: 1. Christoph Leitgeb 46 points, 2. Rene Winter 45 points, 3. Patrick Winter 44 points.
Junior National Championship: 1. Christoph Leitgeb 64 points, 2. Patrick Winter 54 points, 3. Rene Winter 50 points.
Division III (Diesel): 1. Günther Jörl 55 points, 2. Ing. Michael Böhm 54 points, 3. Willi Rabl jun. 51 points.
Division IV (Alternative Class): 1. Beppo Harrach 58 points, 2. Martin Ertl 32 points, 3. Manfred Stohl 12 points.
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