Zoom Duval ready to get back into competing

A few days ago, François Duval confirmed his participation in the World Rally Championship's season-ending Wales Rally GB, which will take place from 5th to 7th December. The Belgian driver will be racing aboard a Stobart Ford car with Denis Giraudet sitting in the passenger seat and reading the notes.

Following the heavy crash in Japan which could have cost his life, regular co-driver Patrick Pivato has returned to France where he is making constant progress back towards health.

In the days following the accident, Duval thought long and hard about his readiness to compete again so soon after such a shaking experience.

"I received a lot of phone calls," wrote Duval on his website, naming Ford team principal Malcolm Wilson, Citroen Sport's Dani Sordo, and Sébastien Loeb's co-driver Daniel Elena amid those who contacted him.

"They all encouraged me to run; Patrick wants me to as well," he related.

Denis Giraudet was amongst the first at the scene of the accident; he accompanied Pivato and Duval to the hospital in Sapporo where he helped as best he could. Afterwards, he offered to replace his friend Pivato so Duval could return to competition and build back his confidence.

"Denis was an obvious choice," stated the Stobart Ford driver. "He has much experience, he is motivated, and after all he did for Patrick and I in Japan, the choice is more than logical."

The pair will get accustomed to each other's style during a pre-rally test session to be conducted a week before Wales Rally GB.

"Now it won't be easy of course, the others will take off very quickly right from the start," Duval foresees. "But I'll begin at my pace and we'll see."

Daniel BASTIEN
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