Clark Gets Chance to Charge in Corsica

Scotsman Barry Clark will tackle his first asphalt event in the 2008 FIA World Rally Championship next week when he heads to Corsica for Rally de France – Tour de Corse.

The 25-year-old from Aberdeenshire enjoyed two successful gravel events in Jordan and Turkey earlier this year with the Munchi’s Ford outfit. He will now take on the rough tarmac in Corsica as part of the Stobart VK M-Sport Ford World Rally Team alongside Britain’s only full-time WRC driver Matthew Wilson. It will be the first time a Scot has competed for the Stobart squad.

Although it will be Clark’s first sealed-surface event in a World Rally car the Scottish speedster has good tarmac experience from the Fiesta SportingTrophy International series, which he won in 2007. He has also been preparing for the event by taking part in the Richard Burns Memorial Rally and helping Ford with reconnaissance at Rally Catalunya.
 
Clark will set his sights on gaining maximum experience of the Ford Focus RS WRC07 in Corsica with a steady drive, while also showing the promising form he displayed in his previous WRC outings in a bid to win backing for a full campaign in 2009.
 
Tour de Corse is renowned as one of the most watched events on the WRC calendar as its history dates back to the inaugural round of the championship in 1973 and has produced legendry winners from every WRC era.
 
Originally known as the 10,000 Turns Rally the event is a technical one, with more abrasive Tarmac than Spain and stages notably narrower than their Spanish counterparts. The event will consist of 16 special stages covering a total of 359.02 kilometres, and will again be based from the island’s capital Ajaccio.
 
Follow Barry's progress throughout Rally de France – Tour de Corse by logging on to www.wrc.com
 
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Driver Barry Clark said:
“This is going to be a seriously tough rally but I’m really looking forward to the challenge. Corsica is different from other tarmac events because there is just corner after corner and virtually no straights. It’s also very narrow and bumpy so there’s a lot to contend with. I’ve competed in Corsica once before in 2006 in the Fiesta but this will be a whole different scenario. It will be about having a good shakedown and building up my feeling and confidence in the Focus WRC. My aim is to go there and drive cleanly so that I can finish the rally and get as much experience as possible.”