Manfred Stohl‘s STARD Operation has confirmed that it will make its debut in the 2017 FIA World Rallycross Championship with both Janis Baumanis and former Double FIA European Rallycross champion Timur Timerzyanov confirmed for the season ahead.
The two upgraded Ford Fiesta RXS Evo 3 Supercars will be run and maintained this year by Stohl Racing itself whilst development of the cars will take place alongside the STARD Operation development team.
Stohl explained his plans for the 2017 season as his outfit tackles its first World RX year.
“We will field two of the Ford Fiesta RXS Evo 3 – these are based on the cars which STARD has developed and built in 2015, and optimised in 2016 for MJP Racing Team Austria,” said Stohl. “Our development engineers have intensively worked on another upgrade for the 2017 Evo 3 version and in Janis and Timur we have the top level drivers in rallycross.
Janis Baumanis will rive the LOCO Energy backed Ford Fiesta for Stohl Racing this year. Credit: IMG / FIA World RX
Baumanis is excited to be working with Stohl once again and is looking forward to the season ahead.
“This is a great feeling – with Manfred Stohl’s help, I have managed to secure a Supercar drive once again,” explained Baumanis. “In Stohl Group’s office I signed a contract for World RX Team Austria but now, with STARD, I am back there again – where it all began for me. I have big plans for the 2017 season and I’m feeling very well prepared.”
This is how Timur Timerzyanov’s Stohl Racing Fiesta will look for the 2017 World RX Season. Credit: IMG / FIA World RX
Timerzyanov has been working with the development of the cars over the winter and is looking forward making a step forward.
“I expect that the experience and knowledge gained from racing the Stohl built car throughout 2016 will help me greatly this year. I have given my input to the STARD engineers to help prepare this year’s car. I am looking forward to a professional and hopefully successful 2017 season.”
The first round of the 2017 FIA World Rallycross Championship takes place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on April 1-2.
