Austrian impressed by Gronholm's 'replacement'.
by Rob Wilkins
Manfred Stohl believes that Jari-Matti Latvala could be Sebastien Loeb's biggest threat in the coming years.
Stohl has been impressed with Jari's form since the Finn was promoted to the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team and reckons that the Uddeholm Swedish Rally winner will get stronger and stronger as the season goes on.
Indeed while Mikko Hirvonen may top the standings at the moment, five points up on Loeb and 17 up on Latvala, Manfred still reckons Jari is the better bet for the future.
"I am not sure," Stohl told Crash.net Radio, when asked if Mikko Hirvonen can stop Sebastien from taking the 2008 drivers' title.
"I don't think Hirvonen is the right person for it. [I am not sure anyone can do it] - not this year [anyway]. It is not easy, but if someone can, it is Jari-Matti."
Stohl, who has competed in over 100 WRC events and who was apart of the OMV Kronos Citroen WRT in 2007, added that while he is missing being apart of the World Rally Championship this year, he can't help but be slightly worried by how things are going.
"When you have been doing it for a long time you do miss it. But it is a bit disappointing what it is like at the moment and where it is going," he added.
"It is missing a bit of professionalism in my view. If you finish 20 minutes behind and you are still fourth overall, as was the case in Argentina [with Conrad Rautenbach], that is a bit worrying. There are just not enough drivers' there. It is missing the quantity."
Stohl himself meanwhile will make his debut in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge next week, when he takes in the Rally Portugal in a Peugeot 207 Super 2000, and he is looking forward to seeing what he can do.
"The organiser called me and asked me if I wanted to take part. I was just happy to get the chance and we soon came to an agreement. That is how it started," he continued.
"It is hard to say [how I will do though]. I don't know on what level the car is. If it was my own car or if it was a car from one of the manufacturers', you know where you are.
"It is very, very difficult to predict what I can achieve. From a drivers' point of view I am sure we can fight for the win. But we will see. I am happy to have the opportunity to drive and if everything works well we hope to have a good result."
Asked what is on the cards after Portugal and if the IRC might be something he will do in the future, Stohl added that anything is possible.
"I am open to everything of course," he concluded.
"But it is all related at the moment to sponsorship and because my long term backer, OMV, retired from rallying, it makes it harder for me. Right now I have many plans - but nothing is confirmed and nothing is in place, except Portugal."
