François Duval will be joining the Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team as a guest driver in Rally Germany next month.
The 29-year-old Belgian driver will be competing at the wheel of a Ford Focus RS World Rally Car and will be nominated for points in the ninth round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC).
In 2008, Duval joined Ford to complete four WRC rounds with the Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team and two further rounds with the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team.
Duval has contested the German round of the WRC seven times and has finished second on three occasions. His last outing at the Trier-based event was with the Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team in 2008 where he finished fourth overall.
François Duval commented:
“It is of great credit to Malcolm [Wilson] and Christian [Loriaux] at M-Sport that I have been given this opportunity to drive for the Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team once again. I hope that I will have a good test in the weeks before Germany and that I will be able to get a good result for the team. Germany is a very nice rally and each year I have competed I’ve had very good results so I am confident I will be able to do well again this year.”
Ford Team Principal Malcolm Wilson commented:
“I’m delighted to see François back behind the wheel of a Ford Focus RS WRC again. He will strengthen the Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team at a crucial part of the season so we are very much looking forward to welcoming him on board. We really enjoyed working with François in 2008 and I have little doubt that he will continue to impress us when he joins us in Germany next month.”