Reactions – Galli happy to be on the podium for Stobart

For his second rally with Stobart Ford, Gigi Galli matched his best career result by taking third place in the Swedish Rally.

Galli and his co-driver Giovanni Bernacchini, both Italians, encountered no problems with their Ford Focus and even managed to set a better time in the Karlstadt super-special on Friday evening.

“It’s an exceptional feeling to be on the podium so early in the season,” says Galli. “The tires were perfect in difficult conditions, and the car ran flawlessly. It was important for me to score points and help Ford have three cars on the podium. I wanted to be fast, but I also had to make sure I finished. I can say that I used my head to stay out of trouble.”

Norwegian Henning Solberg added two more manufacturer points to Stobart’s total. This result could have been more impressive without an exit into a barrier on Saturday. The Stobart mechanics worked overnight to repair the damage, allowing Henning to rejoin in Superally for the final day and finish 13th overall. « The team was fantastic. They knew how important it was to fix my car last night. I remain disappointed by my mistake », explains Solberg. « This was the event where I could shine the most. I came to win. I showed it by setting all the best times today. I was in the right rhythm and pushed hard for all the fans who traveled from Norway. »

The team’s third car, entrusted to the 21-year-old Briton Matt Wilson, was on its way to the fifth position until a throttle issue stopped it in the penultimate stage. “I am very disappointed to have to retire so close to the finish when I was in a good position,” said Wilson. “At the end of the stage, the throttle got stuck. It was quite frightening. We couldn’t continue. There are many positive points to take away from this event. My split times improved throughout the rally. I am confident before going to Mexico. It’s important because I will score points for the team there.”

According to the WRC