Stohl backs star Aigner for IRC success

Manfred Stohl, the international rally driver turned team boss, has backed fellow Austrian Andreas Aigner to shine in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in 2012.

Aigner, who is set to tackle a minimum of five IRC events in 2012 in a Subaru Impreza R4 STI developed by Stohl’s eponymous team, is highly rated but has struggled to compete on a regular basis in recent years due to a lack of funding.

Stohl said: “I vouched for Andi because I think at the moment he is the only Austrian driver with the ability for success in the international rally circuit,” said Stohl, who guided Toshi Arai to the inaugural IRC Production Cup title in 2011. “We’re looking forward to an exciting season with Andi and the R4 Subaru.”

Aigner’s IRC campaign is set to include the rounds in Corsica, Belgium, Romania, Czech Republic and Cyprus.