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20 August 2008 - The Stobart VK M-Sport Ford rally team has decided to enter Franois Duval in Repco Rally New Zealand which starts on Thursday 28 August, following their lead driver Gigi Galli suffering a broken leg during Rallye Deutschland on 15 August. Duval will be the second Stobart VK M-Sport Ford rally team entrant, joining the team's other driver Matthew Wilson as the second nominated point-scoring driver. Stobart VK M-Sport Ford team principal Malcolm Wilson says the team will be very happy to have Franois back in the Stobart team for New Zealand. "He did a great job in Germany last weekend [finishing third overall] and as he is already confirmed to compete in Spain and Corsica, it will be a good opportunity for him to gain more valuable experience and time in the car." Usually a team may only change one element of the entry but the Stobart team management are currently requesting permission from the FIA to change both the driver and co-driver elements due to the obvious safety issue brought about by a language barrier between the Belgium-born Duval and Gilli's regular Italian co-driver Giovanni Bernacchini. If this is confirmed, then Duval's co-driver Patrick Pivato will join Duval for the event. The team's decision comes after Duval scored an amazing podium finish in Germany last week and, as the Belgian is also contesting events in Spain and Corsica later this year, it was the most logical decision to allow him more time behind the wheel of the Stobart Ford Focus RS WRC07. Duval has been utilised by the Ford-backed manufacturer team as a tarmac specialist this season, originally only scheduled to contest the tarmac events: Monte Carlo, Germany, Spain and Corsica. Wilson says Duval has already demonstrated his ability to perform on fast gravel in the southern hemisphere after he won Rally Australia in 2005. Duval has also competed in New Zealand before, twice with Ford in 2003 and 2004, and once with Citron in 2005. He finished ninth in 2003, eighteenth in 2005 and had his best finish in 2005 with a fourth. All three times he competed in Rally New Zealand he was partnered with experienced co-driver Stphane Prvot beside him; Prvot is now Subaru driver Chris Atkinson's co-driver. Repco Rally New Zealand takes place from Thursday 28 August until Sunday 31 August. Event passes, the programmes and rally map are available from all Repco stores in New Zealand, online at www.repco.co.nz and at the event. Official Repco Rally New Zealand merchandise is available online from www.repco.co.nz and at selected Repco stores, with regular news updates available on the event website, www.rallynz.org.nz.