Austria

Austrian rallying hero, Manfred Stohl has stohlen the limelight at the Rally Waldviertel in Austria on the weekend, taking out first place in his first outing in the OMV compressed natural gas (CNG) fuelled Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX. Stohl’s racing team engineered the car for OMV but this is the first time he has raced in one of the CNG vehicles. Team mate and regular CNG Evo driver, Beppo Harrach, came fourth place, driving the Evo VI model, despite major technical issues with his vehicle.

Stohl accomplished 11 out of 12 best times in the CNG Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX on day two and 13 out of 17 overall. In the end he finished 1'50"7 ahead of OMV Bixxol Rally Team driver Stepan Vojtech (Mitsubishi Evo IX) from the Czech Republic. Beppo Harrach (CNG Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI) reached fourth overall place despite suffering  broken driveshaft on special stage 13. Prior to that incident he had been running comfortably in second place.

Stohl started the race as clear favourite, but played down expectations saying that it was his first outing with the CNG Lancer.

Stohl said the win proved that CNG is the equal of any other fuel, "It is a very special feeling to win the OMV Rally Waldviertel. Especially with the CNG car for which this was invaluable publicity. After Beppo's victory at the Ostarrichi Rally we have once again proven that gas-driven rally cars are a serious alternative."