Astra plots more events with Gardemeister in '07.

by Rob Wilkins

Astra boss Luca Pregliasco has confirmed exclusively to Crash.net Radio that they hope to again run a WRC programme with Toni Gardemeister in 2007.

Speaking earlier this week, while in Bahrain, Pregliasco noted that while nothing is certain as yet, it does look likely they will compete in the FIA World Rally championship next season and that currently they hope to do four or five events, although other than the Rallye Monte Carlo, he was uncertain, which rallies they will do.

"Our plans are to do something again with Toni [next year] - a few events, I would say four or five events, but today it is difficult to say," he noted. "Budgets are difficult to secure and everything is very, very expensive and for a private team to do something at world level it is always very difficult.

"I am fighting a lot with my sponsors and we are really trying hard to do something with Toni. Nothing has been decided yet, but I can promise I am on the case everyday and we will all do our best in order to be at the start of Rallye Monte Carlo next year."

Asked what car they will use, Pregliasco added that while it is likely they will stick with the Citroen Xsara WRC, they are evaluating other offers: "The Xsara is a strong possibility. First, because we have had very good treatment from Citroen Sport and the co-operation with PH-Sport was fantastic, so everything has been going well. So I don't see why we would have to change," he explained. "But of course, as in all other business, there are offers from other teams also and therefore it is something that is still under evaluation, even though the Xsara is a strong possibility."

As for what the might achieve, Luca is hopeful they can replicate the same kind of success they managed in 2006, which saw Gardemeister take good finishes on every single event he contested, including a podium finish at the season opening, Rallye Monte Carlo.

"I think with a driver the level of Toni, you can try to be in the top five [on most rallies] if you do ten events. Of course, we will try to target the top three but that is difficult because the drivers' are strong in the WRC and fast,? he continued. ?It is not only a question of the car either, it is a question of being use to driving it and Toni with a few events, even though he has been doing a very well this year with just a few events, we cannot assure him of the same level of kilometres of testing that the other drivers' are doing.

"So if Toni has the possibility of doing ten events, I think we have a strong possibility of doing top three, top five [results]. If it is just a few events it is harder of course because driving sometimes is not the same as driving almost every week."

Furthermore, while Gardemeister is by no means tied to Astra, he will be out in action with the squad next month, when he takes in the Bolognia Motor Show in Italy, which runs from December 15-17.